Ishraque supporters declare Advisor Asif Mahmud 'unwelcome', lock Nagar Bhaban in protest

Supporters claim the government is "stalling" Ishraque’s oath to block the BNP’s rise

Supporters of the BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have declared Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain “unwelcome” at Nagar Bhaban, amid protests demanding he be handed over the mayoral office of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

Protesters identifying themselves as “General Voters of Dhaka” rallied outside Nagar Bhaban on Saturday morning, pressing on with a third day of sit-ins and a march towards the Secretariat.

Around 11am, processions began moving from Nagar Bhaban in small groups, heading through Golap Shah Mazar and GPO towards Paltan.

Police erected barricades at the GPO intersection, blocking access to the Secretariat, and prompting demonstrators to reroute via Paltan to the Press Club.

After a brief halt there, the crowd returned to Nagar Bhaban and resumed their demonstration outside the main gate.

Shouting slogans, they demanded the resignation of Asif, who serves as an advisor to both the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

One of the demonstrators, Khalil Shaheen from Shahbagh, said: “The government is stalling Ishraq’s oath-taking to keep the BNP leaders from securing any significant position.”

Shahadat Hossain Saikat from Dhanmondi said: “Ishraque Hossain is the people’s mayor. During the autocratic regime, the people's mandate was snatched and someone else was made mayor.

“Now the court has recognised him as mayor, but the government isn’t making arrangements for his oath.”

Ishraque’s supporters remained outside the Nagar Bhaban until 1pm.

Speaking there, former senior secretary Moshiur Rahman declared Asif “unwelcome” at the city corporation headquarters.

“Asif Mahmud is hereby declared unwelcome at Nagar Bhaban. Wherever he is found, he will be resisted,” he said.

The 14th and 15th floors of the DSCC’s main building house the offices of the Local Government Division, which relocated there after a fire at the Secretariat.

The advisor usually operates from those floors.

He, however, has not returned to Nagar Bhaban since Wednesday.

Md Salah Uddin, Local Government Division’s spokesperson, told bdnews24.com on Saturday: “Sir is also an adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, so he has an office at the National Sports Council Tower.

“He is currently working from there.”