Ishraque’s supporters continue protest for third day

Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain continued their demonstration for the third consecutive day, demanding that he be sworn in and given the responsibilities of the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) .

They have been demonstrating outside the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) headquarters and the Jatiya Press Club since morning.

Earlier in the day, the demonstrators announced a march towards the Secretariat from DSCC headquarters.

However, police blocked the procession, forcing them to change course and stage a brief sit-in in front of the Press Club before returning to Nagar Bhaban.

Since early morning, processions from various parts of the capital converged near the DSCC headquarters, blocking traffic on adjacent roads by around 10:30am.

While the main gate of Nagar Bhaban remained closed, entry and exit continued through a smaller gate.

Around 11:00am, several processions moved from Nagar Bhaban towards Paltan via Golap Shah Mazar and the GPO.

Police set up barricades at GPO Mor, stopping protesters from heading towards the Secretariat.

The crowd then regrouped at the Press Club, where they chanted slogans before returning to Nagar Bhaban.

Protesters also demanded the resignation of Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

"The government is stalling Ishraque's swearing-in because it does not want BNP leaders to hold important positions," said Khalil Shaheen, a protester from Shahbagh.

"Ishraque Hossain is the people's mayor," said Shahadat Hossain Saikat, another protester.

"The public mandate was taken away during an autocratic regime. The court has now recognised him, yet the government is still delaying his oath-taking."

Protests have been ongoing outside Nagar Bhaban since Thursday.

On March 27, the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal declared Ishraque Hossain, a BNP Foreign Affairs Committee member, as the rightful mayor of DSCC. Following the verdict, the Election Commission published a gazette notification.