In a continued protest for the second consecutive day, demonstrators demanding the appointment of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have locked all entry gates of Nagar Bhaban, effectively shutting down administrative operations.
As of 12 pm Thursday (May 15), officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, along with staff from various DSCC departments, were unable to enter the city corporation headquarters. Activities of the ministry's offices located on the 12th floor of Nagar Bhaban also came to a standstill. Upon learning about the lockout, advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan refrained from going to the office.
Since morning, protesters carrying banners reading "Nagar Bhaban Blockade by Dhaka's General Voters–Organised by: City Residents" gathered in front of the building, arriving in processions from various city wards. Their occupation of the main gate, adjacent roads, and entry points led to severe traffic congestion in the area. Citizens seeking services were forced to turn back, and many government officials could not enter the office despite having urgent responsibilities on the final working day of the week.
Protesters stated that there has been undue delay and uncertainty regarding Ishraque Hossain's oath-taking ceremony. Despite a court verdict and the subsequent publication of the Election Commission's official gazette, Ishraque, whom they refer to as the "people's mayor" — has yet to be formally handed the role. As a result, they said, a continuous sit-in protest has become necessary.
On March 27, the First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal of Dhaka declared BNP Foreign Affairs Committee member Ishraque Hossain as the rightful Mayor of Dhaka South. Following the ruling, the Election Commission issued an official gazette on April 27 confirming his appointment. However, as of now, no arrangements have been made for his swearing-in ceremony.
