After 42 days of ongoing protests began demanding that BNP leader Ishraque Hossain be handed the mayoral duties, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia on Thursday re-entered his office at Nagar Bhaban.
Following 42 consecutive days of the Nagar Bhaban being blockaded, protesters finally unlocked the administrator’s office. Shahjahan Mia entered his office around 1:30 PM.
On the occasion, he called upon officials and staff of all departments to return to work.
Golam Mostafa, the security officer at Nagar Bhaban, unlocked the door that had been sealed 42 days earlier. Other DSCC employees were also present at the time.
Shahjahan said, "We do not want to look back anymore. We have a lot of work ahead, and we will get it done. We want to assure city residents that we will continue to provide all civic services. Our offices will remain open on both Friday and Saturday. I will work with all my colleagues."
He stressed three priority areas for the coming days: mosquito control, cleanliness, and preparing the budget for the next fiscal year.
"We will make the civic services we are providing even more effective. Work on our budget is already underway," he said.
"Even amid this crisis, work never fully stopped. But from today, everyone will work wholeheartedly. I have asked all my officers to return to their duties. Our major task now is to prepare the budget and accelerate field operations. We will give special importance to mosquito control and cleanliness," he added.
The administrator was welcomed by pro-BNP Employees' Union of Dhaka South City Corporation President Arif Chowdhury, one of the coordinators of the movement that sought Ishraque Hossain's swearing-in, and General Secretary Belayet Hossain Babu and other supporters of Ishraque.
Arif and Belayet, who have been demonstrating under the banner of "Amra Dhakabashi" since mid-May, assured Shahjahan of their full cooperation.
Belayet said, "We will support the administrator in all activities of the city corporation. We will move forward according to his guidance to make the work more efficient."
Arif Chowdhury told TBS, "We have received instructions from Mayor Ishraque Hossain to cooperate with the Administrator Sir. We have spoken with him and he has encouraged us. We will extend our full cooperation to the Administrator Sir, the engineering department, and all other areas of work."
He further said, "Officially, there is no sit-in programme anymore, neither by Dhakabashi nor by the Workers' Union. However, unofficially, some presence will be maintained to ensure no one can spread panic."
Earlier Thursday morning, cleaning work was underway at the administrator's office.
On March 27, an electoral tribunal and the Dhaka First Joint District Judge Court declared Ishraque Hossain as the mayor.
The Election Commission published a gazette on April 27, officially recognizing him as mayor.
However, the Ministry of Local Government took no steps to implement the gazette.
The Appellate Division’s full bench later rejected a petition filed regarding Ishraque not being administered the oath.
Subsequently, starting May 14, supporters of Ishraque launched a continuous sit-in and work abstention program at Nagar Bhaban, demanding that he be handed over mayoral responsibilities.
During this period, the main gate of Nagar Bhaban, the administrator’s office, and entrances to all civic service offices were locked.
