At least nine people were injured in a clash between two rival factions of the Dhaka South City Corporation-based Shramik Karmachari Union at Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday.
The clash erupted just two days after the Dhaka South City Corporation's (DSCC) headquarters, Nagar Bhaban, reopened following a 40-day lockdown amid demands from BNP leader Ishraque Hossain to be sworn in as Mayor of DSCC.
The confrontation broke out around 12 noon between supporters of Arifuzzaman Prince, a leader of one faction of the Jatiyotabadi Sromik-Kormochari Union, and Arif Chowdhury, president of the rival faction known as the pro-Ishraque group, according to eyewitnesses.
The altercation began shortly after Arifuzzaman Prince arrived at Nagar Bhaban with his followers and encountered members of Arif Chowdhury’s faction.
People who had come to the DSCC headquarters to carry out official work were frightened by the incident, especially since the office had just reopened after a long closure.
When contacted, several DSCC sources told Dhaka Tribune that the clash was rooted in a struggle for dominance at Nagar Bhaban between the two BNP-affiliated factions stationed there.
During the 40-day protest, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain had started performing duties as the “self-declared” mayor of DSCC, despite not having taken an official oath. He attended meetings with DSCC officials and employees under a banner referring to him as the "honourable mayor."
Though Ishraque’s supporters have declared him the mayor of DSCC, the office had been under someone else’s control since August 5, following the fall of the Awami League regime.
Arifuzzaman Prince, a former Chhatra Dal leader of Sutrapur thana and currently an assistant engineer, was reportedly backing a superintendent engineer who has since been promoted to additional chief engineer.
According to sources familiar with DSCC affairs, this group was effectively managing Nagar Bhaban during the transitional period.
However, after the emergence of protests by Ishraque’s supporters, Nagar Bhaban was shut down and all operations suspended. When the office reopened after the 40-day deadlock, both factions clashed in a bid to assert control over the premises.
Following the clash, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain claimed that those involved in the attack at Nagar Bhaban were not members of the BNP or its labour wing, the Sramik Dal.
He alleged that the attackers used BNP slogans to tarnish the party’s image and claimed they had close ties with Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.
Ishraque made these remarks to reporters in front of the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday after visiting those injured in the incident.
He further stated: “DSCC official Golam Kibria Rubel and employee Arifuzzaman Prince led this terrorist attack. They previously benefited in various ways from former Awami League mayors Sayeed Khokon and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.”
He also claimed that Golam Kibria Rubel and Arifuzzaman Prince are close to Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud.
However, when contacted, Arifuzzaman Prince told Dhaka Tribune last night that he has been actively involved in BNP politics for the past 30 years, and that Ishraque’s father, former Dhaka City Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, along with other senior BNP leaders, knows him well.
Describing the events, he said: “After the deadlock ended and Nagar Bhaban reopened two days ago, we learned that Arif Chowdhury and others were misbehaving with DSCC officials, accusing them of being Awami League collaborators.”
“Today, I went to Nagar Bhaban and questioned why they were harassing DSCC staff and tarnishing Ishraque Hossain’s name. Then they attacked me,” he added.
When asked about the control of DSCC following August 5, Arifuzzaman did not give a direct answer but said he has been with the City Corporation for 30 years and supports an inclusive administration where all employees can work together.
He noted that Assistant Engineer Golam Kibria Rubel is a friend and had also been active in BNP politics—as President of Sutrapur Thana Chattra Dal and later as a Dhaka City Chattra Dal leader when Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel was president.
Arifuzzaman further stated, “Initially, when Ishraque Hossain—being the son of Sadek Hossain Khoka—launched his protest to be sworn in as mayor, we supported him. But later, when we saw he was being misguided by others, we opposed him.”
Sources at Nagar Bhaban said that those not actively supporting Ishraque’s campaign are now being branded as opponents since office activities resumed.
Yesterday’s violence reportedly broke out when Arifuzzaman’s group attempted to assert its influence over Arif Chowdhury’s group at the site.
The ongoing administrative deadlock at DSCC stems from a March 27 verdict by the Dhaka Electoral Tribunal, which invalidated the mayoral election results that had declared Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as mayor.
The tribunal instead recognized BNP’s Ishraque Hossain as the rightful winner.
On April 27, the Election Commission issued a gazette confirming Ishraque as DSCC mayor. However, he has not yet been sworn in due to inaction by the concerned authorities—a delay that sparked the prolonged protest at Nagar Bhaban.
What LGRD Adviser Asif is saying
Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has attributed the clashes at Nagar Bhaban, DSCC’s headquarters, to a power struggle for control and influence between two rival groups.
"Previously, a similar altercation left individuals injured, and today’s incident mirrors that same cycle of confrontation. There have even been instances where the gates of Nagar Bhaban were locked, with public announcements claiming, 'Asif Mahmud has shut down city corporation operations,'" Asif wrote on Facebook yesterday.
"Whenever tensions rise, blame is conveniently placed on Asif Mahmud. Even when certain members of the same party instigate unrest and lead others into the trap of agitation, responsibility is again shifted to me," he added.
