Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, has denounced the ongoing protest by BNP supporters outside the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) headquarters, accusing them of forcibly shutting down the Nagar Bhaban in an attempt to impose their demands.
In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, Asif Mahmud responded to the demonstration led by supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, who are demanding that he be sworn in as mayor of DSCC following a court verdict and the publication of the election commission's gazette.
For the sixth consecutive day, Ishraque’s supporters under the banner of “Dhakabashi” have been staging sit-ins and demonstrations in front of the Nagar Bhaban, locking its main gate. They alleged that Ishraque is being denied the mayoral oath due to interference by Adviser Asif Mahmud.
In his detailed post, Asif Mahmud outlined 10 key legal and procedural complications preventing the oath-taking, stating that “without resolving these complexities, it is not legally possible to proceed with the swearing-in.”
He further argued that instead of following proper procedures, the BNP has shut down the city office with brute force, disrupting municipal operations and causing public suffering.
The 10 complications, as outlined by Asif Mahmud, are:
The Election Tribunal’s verdict contradicts a High Court ruling that declared the petition amendment illegal.
The Election Commission (EC) did not participate in the hearing, resulting in a one-sided judgment, and did not file an appeal.
The EC published the gazette late at night without legal opinion from the Ministry of Law and ignored legal notices from two citizens.
The Local Government Division was not made a party to the case, nor did the verdict mention any directive toward the division.
A writ petition against the Local Government Division is still pending over the issue of oath non-compliance.
A similar case regarding Barisal City was dismissed by the tribunal citing the same High Court ruling on petition amendments—indicating contradictory tribunal stances.
There is ambiguity over Ishraque's tenure as mayor—how long he would serve or whether his term is still valid.
The EC stated that further steps should be taken only if there are no legal complications; currently, several such issues exist.
The Ministry of Law has been approached for clarification and legal advice.
The broader question of legitimizing elections held under the Awami League government also comes into play. If political parties recognize those elections as valid, the government would not face such dilemmas.
Asif Mahmud concluded that the Local Government Division has no objection to administering the oath once the legal hurdles are cleared.
He also attached a photo to his post, referring to personal attacks from Ishraque Hossain’s side. “I don’t see any reason for Ishraque Hossain’s aggressive and disrespectful behavior toward me,” he wrote, stressing that the protest is being carried out by party activists following instructions from BNP and its affiliates, supported by intelligence reports.
Meanwhile, Ishraque Hossain has escalated his rhetoric. In a Facebook post around 2:45 PM on Monday, he claimed that certain individuals in the interim administration are deliberately obstructing his assumption of office to manipulate the political landscape ahead of the upcoming national elections.
“They’ve made it clear what role they intend to play in the next elections by trying with all their might to prevent a BNP mayor in Dhaka,” Ishraque wrote.
He demanded the resignation of those “acting as representatives of one party under the guise of neutrality,” adding, “They have threatened judges, challenged the Election Commission, interfered with the High Court, and are conspiring with pro-government bureaucrats.”
Declaring his continued resolve, Ishraque stated: “Either we will win our rightful demand, or we will be buried in the soil as determined by Allah. There will be no compromise on democracy or the people’s right to vote.”
The standoff continues, with BNP supporters showing no sign of backing down and the government holding firm on legal grounds.
