Defying drizzle and rain, supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain continued their sit-in demonstration on Thursday by occupying the busy Kakrail Road in the capital, demanding that he be sworn in as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
This is the latest in a series of demonstrations by Ishraque’s supporters, who have been holding a sit-in programme in front of Nagar Bhaban since May 14. On Tuesday, Ishraque’s supporters issued a warning that if he was not sworn in by 10:00am on Wednesday, they would intensify their agitation. True to their word, they escalated the protest by taking their movement to the streets of Kakrail—one of Dhaka’s busiest administrative and traffic arteries, and close to Jamuna, the official residence of the chief adviser.
The protestors claim that Ishraque rightfully won the mayoral post in the last election, but has not been sworn in due to alleged political interference by the interim government. The protest has brought traffic to a standstill at key points, including the Kakrail intersection, Matsya Bhaban, and surrounding areas, leading to severe congestion and public inconvenience.
Due to the prolonged sit-in at Nagar Bhaban, city administrative functions have been severely disrupted. Most official work remains suspended and public services have been hampered. Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has been unable to enter his office at Nagar Bhaban due to the blockade. He has denounced the protest, calling it “an attempt to seize control of City Hall by force.”
Adding to the political tension, Ishraque Hossain on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Asif Mahmud and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam from the interim government, alleging their political bias.
In a Facebook post, Ishraque stated, “In the interest of democratic integrity and political decency, I urge Asif Mahmud and Mahfuj Alam to step down from all responsibilities in the interim government. It is increasingly clear that they are aligned with a political party and may even contest in upcoming elections. Is it not logical to demand their resignation under such circumstances?”
The BNP and its allies have been vocally criticising the current interim administration, accusing it of being partial and obstructing fair political participation.
The dispute surrounding Ishraque’s mayorship has now evolved into a broader confrontation between the BNP and the government over electoral transparency and administrative neutrality. Political analysts note that the continued protests and road blockades reflect growing frustration within the opposition and may trigger further instability if not addressed promptly.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission and the interim government have yet to respond publicly to the demands or clarify the legal status of Ishraque’s claim to the mayoral office.
This protest adds to the mounting political pressure on the interim government, already grappling with calls for reform and neutrality from multiple opposition groups ahead of the national election expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has called on Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam to resign from all responsibilities of the interim government. Ishraque made the call on Wednesday through a post on his verified Facebook page.
He said, “In a democratic manner, adhering to political etiquette and for logical reasons, I am urging advisers Asif Mahmud and Mahfuj Alam to resign from all responsibilities of the interim government. It is evident that you are affiliated with a political party and may be directly involved in the future.
“It is also quite clear that you intend to contest in the upcoming election. So is it unreasonable to demand your resignation? Or would that not be the right move to put an end to the political controversy surrounding you?”
The BNP leader added, “Follow the precedent set by your [former] colleague Nahid Islam. He could have continued as a minister for a few more days and then joined the NCP. There was a time when Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah could have also taken ministerial posts if they had strongly demanded it.
