Online Desk  :   For the fifth consecutive day, protesters have blockaded Nagar Bhaban, the headquarters of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), demanding that BNP leader Ishraque Hossain be officially instated as mayor. The demonstration has brought all DSCC services to a standstill. Since Monday morning, demonstrators under the banner of “Dhaka residents” gathered in front of Nagar Bhaban in small processions from various parts of the city. The main gate of the building has been blocked, preventing public entry and disrupting all administrative operations.

The protesters are calling for immediate implementation of a tribunal verdict issued on March 27, 2025, which annulled the results of the 2020 DSCC mayoral election. That ruling declared Ishraque Hossain the rightful winner over Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. On April 22, after receiving the tribunal verdict, the Election Commission sought legal advice from the Ministry of Law regarding the publication of the gazette that would formalize Ishraque’s appointment. With no official action taken yet, tensions have escalated.

Supporters of Ishraque within the South City Corporation have reportedly locked all departmental entrances, including the main gate, effectively suspending all services such as licensing, complaints handling, and tax-related assistance. Residents arriving at Nagar Bhaban have had to return without service. The protesters have vowed to continue the blockade until the government enforces the tribunal’s ruling and Ishraque Hossain is officially installed as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.