Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia returned to his office at Nagar Bhaban on Thursday as pro-BNP activists relaxed their protests to help resume daily citizen services.
A section of DSCC workers, including the pro-BNP activists protesting against Shahjahan's return, welcomed the administrator and pledged to extend all kinds of support. One pro-BNP protest leader said they have changed their approach on "orders from the top."
Upon his return, Administrator Shahjahan told reporters he does not want to look behind anymore, and stressed completing a number of tasks on a priority basis starting with the implementation of new budget.
On 14 May, pro-BNP workers of Nagar Bhaban launched a protest demanding BNP leader Ishraque Hossain be appointed as the DSCC mayor in keeping with the updated Election Commission gazette.
They padlocked almost all offices at Nagar Bhaban to press home their demand, severely disrupting citizen services.
The government has kept dragging its heel on the issue. Many claimed the last DSCC mayoral elections were rigged as it was held under the autocratic Awami League regime. However, pro-BNP activists kept protesting as the apex court verdict on the issue favoured their cause.
Earlier, on Sunday, former secretary Mashiur Rahman, a key organiser of the protests, asked all officials to return to their offices to help resume services and ease public sufferings as people's anger have steadily grown at the protests.
However, Mashiur Rahman warned that Administrator Shahjahan Mia will not be allowed to return, and Nagar Bhaban's civil engineering department would also be kept shut.
As a result, most DSCC workers, earlier prevented from entry, rejoined duties on Monday, but the administrator did not.
On Thursday, the administrator also returned, along with a section of civil engineering officials, after pro-BNP activists further eased their movement.
Pro-BNP Workers' Union leaders Arif Chowdhury, and Belayet Hossain Babu were among those who welcomed Shajahan Mia on Thursday.
Arif Chowdhury told reporters his team has decided to support the administrator from now on "orders from the top."
Source: Daily Sun
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