Supporters of Ishrak Hossain have warned that Dhaka will be paralyzed unless he is handed over the mayor's office by May 21. They also announced that they will resume their sit-in protest in front of the City Corporation building at 10 AM tomorrow.

On Tuesday (May 20), former secretary Mashiur Rahman declared this course of action on behalf of the people of Dhaka during the sixth day of their protest. He said, "We will wait until 10 AM tomorrow. If Ishrak Hossain is not given the mayor’s position, we will gather again at 10 AM and take even more stringent action, including paralyzing Dhaka."

During the announcement, the City Corporation employee unions also expressed their solidarity with the protest. They declared, "If our demands are not met by 10 AM tomorrow, we will stop providing services like sanitation, waste collection, electricity, and other essential services." These unions include the Scavenger and Workers Union, Transport Drivers and Workers Union, Electricity Workers Welfare Association, and the Fourth-Class Employees Welfare Association.

In addition, on Tuesday morning at 10 AM, Ishrak Hossain’s supporters began a road blockade in front of the City Corporation building. They set up a makeshift stage, playing the national anthem and patriotic songs. They also chanted slogans in support of Ishrak becoming mayor and against the Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud. As a result, traffic on the road from Bongobazar to Gulistan Golap Shah Mazar was completely disrupted.

This ongoing protest has led to the virtual paralysis of the City Corporation. The 28 essential services provided by the City Corporation are now suspended, causing significant inconvenience for the public.

Ishrak Hossain’s supporters claim that their movement began due to widespread irregularities in the city elections held on February 1, 2020, and subsequent events. After the August 5, 2022, uprising that led to the removal of Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the election tribunal declared Ishrak Hossain as the winner on March 27, 2023. The Election Commission published the gazette on April 27, officially announcing Ishrak as the mayor.

In a Facebook post, Ishrak Hossain wrote, "The effort to block the BNP mayoral candidate in Dhaka clearly shows how this government will behave in the upcoming national elections." He further stated, "This movement is part of a broader demand for the removal of the current government and the establishment of a neutral one."

On the other hand, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Local Government Advisor, commented on Facebook, saying, “There are ten issues that need to be resolved before Ishrak Hossain can take the oath as mayor. Until these issues are resolved, the oath-taking is not possible. The blocking of the City Corporation building by the Dhaka BNP is aimed at forcing a decision through pressure, causing disruption in the daily functioning of the City Corporation and increasing public suffering.”