Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have threatened to bring Dhaka to a standstill if the government does not officially declare him as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The demonstrators, under the banner of ‘Dhakabasir Pokkhe’, have issued an ultimatum, demanding a formal announcement by 10 am on Wednesday (May 21). Failing that, they warned, a more stringent phase of the movement will be declared.

Former secretary Moshior Rahman came up with the warnings from a temporary stage in front of Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday (May 20) afternoon. 

“We will wait until 10:00am tomorrow. If no decision is made to hand over the mayoral duties to Ishraque by then, we will announce tougher programmes,” he said.

The supporters began the movement last Wednesday, demanding that Ishraque be given the mayor’s responsibility. As part of their programme, they staged a sit-in protest in front of Nagar Bhaban from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Tuesday.

The Dhaka South City Corporation mayoral election was held on February 1, 2020. Allegations of widespread irregularities and vote rigging were raised during that election, which Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh won. Ishraque Hossain was the BNP candidate.

Following a public uprising last year, an election tribunal on March 27 this year declared Ishraque Hossain the winner of that election. The Election Commission later issued a gazette on April 27, officially declaring Ishraque as mayor.

MSK/SMS