Ishraque: Mayoral Protest Aims for December Election Roadmap

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has said the ongoing protest is not just about securing his position as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), but rather it is a “broader struggle” to ensure the general election takes place this December.

Speaking at a sit-in at the Kakrail Mosque intersection, he claimed a “plot” was being orchestrated to prevent the BNP from contesting the national polls or returning to power.

He accused two advisors, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Mahfuj Alam, of being involved in a “conspiracy” to derail the BNP’s political future.

“A couple of others are also colluding to make sure the Bangladesh Nationalist Party cannot participate in the next election,” Ishraque said. “They want to keep the BNP from competing or performing well, from returning to power, from implementing the 31-point reform agenda of our leader.”

Some of Ishraque’s supporters had been protesting outside Nagar Bhaban since May 14.

On Wednesday morning, a group moved to occupy parts of the road near Matsya Bhaban and Kakrail.

By evening, only the Kakrail group remained.

Ishraque, who has been declared the winner of the mayoral race by court order, visited the Kakrail protest site near the chief advisor’s residence at night and spoke to journalists.

“People might think this is just about one post or title,” he said. “But this movement will determine whether we’ll actually have an election by December that brings in a government chosen by the people.”

He claimed there was now “clear evidence of a conspiracy”.

Ishraque said, “Whenever BNP talked about elections, some groups criticised us, saying we were desperate for power.

"But our party leaders had warned that such a conspiracy could unfold. Now the people can see it for themselves."

He alleged that there was interference from within the interim government in the judiciary during the mayoral election verdict, warning that the same could happen in the national elections, but the BNP would not allow it.

“Today, the Election Commission is virtually held hostage,” he said.

Ishraque added, “The bureaucracy is under its [interim government] grip. If this is how they treat a mayoral candidate, can anyone really expect a fair general election under it?”

He drew parallels with the Sheikh Hasina administration.

“The previous regime also meddled in the judiciary, destroyed the Election Commission, and weaponised the administration. We won’t let another autocracy rise on this soil,” he added.