BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has alleged that the government is obstructing the services of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in various ways.
"We are trying to serve the city residents, but it is the government itself that is disrupting these services," Ishraque said while participating in the ongoing movement of DSCC employees and the "Amra Dhakabashi" platform at Nagar Bhaban, the DSCC headquarters, on Wednesday.
He said: "Even while the movement is ongoing, we have kept emergency services running. But we have heard that the government, particularly Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, has instructed city corporation officials not to perform their duties."
He added: "Yesterday, I came to know that Asif and the secretary have directed regional executive officers not to sign birth registration or citizen certificates. They are trying to carry out a disgraceful act. Their aim is to disrupt services and shift the blame onto us."
The BNP leader further said: "Yesterday, Asif claimed that I had broken the law and committed a criminal offence. I want to tell him, if I have truly committed a crime, then why has your government not filed a complaint with law enforcement against me?
"Why are you not you directing law enforcement to arrest me? We are not afraid of these threats. We fought against Hasina for 17 years—we have struggled, been jailed, disappeared. We have endured every kind of persecution to fight for people’s rights."
Referring to Asif, the BNP leader said: "If child-like advisers like you want to speak with us, it is an insult for us to even engage. Whatever is happening today, this government is responsible for all of it. They are using people like him to speak on their behalf in an attempt to humiliate and belittle us."
