The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has accused Gono Odhikar Parishad President and former DUCSU Vice President Nurul Haque Nur of inciting unrest after a contractor reportedly favored by him failed to secure a public works contract.
In a press release issued Wednesday, DNCC’s Public Relations Officer Farzana Bobby alleged that Nur attempted to pressure Additional Chief Engineer Mohammad Arifur Rahman during a meeting on May 18, urging him to award the contract to a specific bidder.
The engineer, according to DNCC, informed Nur that contracts are awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and related rules, which do not allow favoritism.
Despite being briefed on the procurement process, DNCC claims that Nur continued to push for his preferred contractor and allegedly threatened to “lock down” DNCC offices if his demands were not met.
Following the rejection of the bid, DNCC alleges that on May 20 at around 3:00 PM, Nur and his associates staged a protest in front of DNCC’s Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan-2, chanting slogans and disrupting official activities.
In a swift rebuttal, Gono Odhikar Parishad dismissed DNCC’s version of events as “false, politically motivated, and a smear campaign.”
In a public statement and social media posts, Nur accused DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz of turning the institution into a “personal business venture,” alleging that contracts are routinely awarded in exchange for kickbacks and political loyalty.
Nur also accused Ejaz of past links to militancy, claiming he was once detained over alleged connections to the banned Islamist group Hizb ut Tahrir—a charge that has surfaced in previous reports and was recently amplified in a social media post by investigative journalist Zulkarnain Sayer.
The protest held on May 20 outside DNCC’s headquarters culminated in a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the removal and arrest of Mohammad Ejaz. Gono Odhikar Parishad has warned of an intensified movement, including a demonstration outside the Chief Adviser’s residence in Jamuna on Saturday, May 24, if their demands are not met.
The group has also raised fresh concerns about alleged irregularities in DNCC’s tendering process, particularly citing the recent awarding of the Gabtoli livestock market contract, which they claim was manipulated in favor of select bidders.
Gono Odhikar Parishad has announced an emergency press conference on Thursday, May 22 at 11:00 AM at its central office.
Nurul Haque Nur and General Secretary Md Rashed Khan are expected to present further details and documentation supporting their allegations.
The ongoing dispute highlights growing friction between civic activists and municipal authorities, with DNCC standing by its commitment to transparency and legal procedures, while Gono Odhikar Parishad continues to demand accountability and independent investigation into what it claims are deep-rooted issues of corruption and mismanagement.