Ishraque’s supporters withdraw blockade after 3 hours of protest

Protesters demanding the formal appointment of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) called off their demonstration today after blocking the road outside Nagar Bhaban for about three hours.

The demonstrators withdrew their protest around 2:30pm, allowing services at Nagar Bhaban to resume.

"We have withdrawn our protest programme for today. The same sit-in-protest will resume around 11:00am tomorrow to press home our demand," said Mashiur Rahman, former secretary and chief coordinator of the demonstration.

The protest, which began around 11:00am, saw members of the DSCC Employees Union staging a sit-in. Supporters of Ishraque from different areas of Dhaka South joined in processions, chanting slogans and demanding his immediate swearing-in as "the people's mayor".

By midday, they had blocked the main gate and surrounding road, bringing civic services — including birth registration, holding tax, and trade licence operations — to a standstill.

"Despite two court verdicts, the Local Government Division is intentionally delaying the transition," said protester and DSCC employee Zafar Ahmed.

"It is clear that administrative manipulation is preventing Ishraque from taking charge. We will not leave until the mayor takes his seat," he said.

The protest, which began on May 14, resumed yesterday following a 48-hour pause.