Supporters resume protests after Ishraque's 48-hr ultimatum ends

FE REPORT
Supporters of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor-elect and BNP leader Ishraque Hossain resumed protests on Saturday in front of the Nagar Bhaban demanding that the government hand over mayoral charge to him without any delay.
They gathered in front of the Nagar Bhaban, the headquarters of the DSCC, since morning and barred delivering civic services from the city corporation.
After the High Court rejected a writ petition filed challenging his oath-taking, Ishraque Hossain on Thursday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the government for arranging his swearing in as the DSCC mayor. As the deadline was over, his supporters thronged in front of the Nagar Bhaban.
Addressing his supporters through mobile phone, Ishraque Hossain said, "We gave timeline to the government. As it was Friday, (May 23, 2025) within the 48 hours' deadline), so there was no work. We will give the government one more day to complete the work (to arrange oath-taking."
He expressed the hope that the city dwellers would not suffer due to any negligence of the government. He claimed that officials and employees of the DSCC stood with him.
He assured his supporters that they will soon enjoy the fruits of their ongoing movement.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
Former government secretary Moshiur Rahman who was present at the gathering said that as the government was yet to make any arrangement for Ishraque Hossain's oath-taking so they gathered in front of the Nagar Bhaban.
He called upon the government to start the process of administering oath to Ishraque Hossain without any delay.
Otherwise, the government will have to bear the responsibility if anything unwanted happens, he warned.
He said that some members of the government are not holding the July mass uprising spirit.
He also said that the Anti-Corruption Commission put a bar on overseas travel of a former assistant personal secretary to the Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser. He said that the former APS could not commit corruption without getting green signal from his boss.
Meanwhile, all the entrances to the Nagar Bhaban were locked on Saturday.
Consequently, officials and employees of the Nagar Bhaban could not enter their respective rooms.
DSCC public relations officer Md Russel Rahman told the media that like previous days, the Nagar Bhaban was also locked on Saturday thus hampering regular official activities.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com