Ishraque demands resignation of Asif

Staff Reporter :

In a sharp escalation of the political standoff surrounding Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Tuesday called for the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, accusing him of violating his oath of office by spreading “false and misleading” information through the media.

Speaking to reporters at the DSCC headquarters, Nagar Bhaban, at around 12:30 p.m., Ishraque said that Bhuiyan had lost his moral right to continue in his post. “He has broken his oath,” Ishraque asserted. “Therefore, he should resign.”

Although Ishraque has yet to officially assume office, a tribunal recently overturned the earlier gazette notification and directed the Election Commission (EC) to issue a new gazette confirming his status as mayor. The EC complied on April 27 and forwarded the order to the Ministry of Local Government for necessary action. However, no swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled so far.

Earlier in the day, supporters of Ishraque-along with a group of DSCC employees-held a demonstration in the Nagar Bhaban courtyard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., continuing a sit-in that began on May 14. The protesters, under the banner of “Dhakabasi,” have since locked the building’s main gates, preventing normal access.

Following the demonstration, Ishraque convened a meeting with secretaries from about 70 DSCC wards, despite not having formally taken office. The session began around 1 p.m., a day after he had similarly met with more than 70 sanitation inspectors.

Ishraque criticized Bhuiyan for comments he made on Monday, in which the adviser claimed that the term of the new gazette had expired, thereby preventing the administration of Ishraque’s oath. “If this were true, no elected official in future would ever be able to take the oath after a legal challenge,” he countered.

He further urged Bhuiyan, whom he described as “young and with a long path ahead,” to respect the will of the people and uphold the court’s decision. “It is not his role to mislead the public with false information. The people of this city, who have endured immense hardship, will not be easily swayed,” Ishraque said.

He also alleged that bureaucratic delays-framed as legal uncertainties over the tribunal verdict-were being used to obstruct the swearing-in process. “The tribunal’s verdict leaves no room for appeal or amendment,” Ishraq insisted.

The political tug-of-war over the DSCC mayoralty has kept Nagar Bhaban effectively in limbo for over a month, with locked gates and continuing demonstrations fueling further uncertainty.