An adventure indeed

It was an “adventure” to Adventure Land!

Narayanganj City Corporation did not have any plans on Monday to open its newly constructed children's park, Adventure Land.

But for Shamim Osman, the Awami League MP from Narayanganj, all that was irrelevant. He showed that, to him, the words “right” or “wrong” or a sense of decorum, are irrelevant.

He barged in Monday and inaugurated the children's park built by the NCC in the city.

The NCC has just completed construction of the park in the city's Fatullah area at a cost of Tk. 25 crore under public-private partnership. "Adventure Land" was built on six acres of its own land.

City Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy had planned to have the park inaugurated either by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or the LGRD Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

But Shamim Osman showed her that he certainly knows how to rain on her parade.

Flanked by a group of his men, he inaugurated Adventure Land. He did not bother to talk with the city corporation before doing so.

Mayor Ivy found it unwarranted and unfair. She said: "Shamim Osman can't do this."

But Shamim Osman has proved that he could.

In the inaugural programme, Shamim Osman reminded all that the park was not anybody's paternal property. Talk about irony!

At least he could have agreed that the name of the park was right for him.

The way he “inaugurated” the park looks bizarre. It sets a bad precedence. This is also a direct and unwanted interference in the functions of the city corporation.

A day before, on Sunday, Shamim's older brother Selim Osman, who is an MP of the main opposition Jatiya Party in the Naryanganj area, warned Ivy of intensifying agitation against her if she did not “surrender.”

Both the Osman brothers accused her of corruption in construction of the park.

On Sunday, Shamim Osman also tarred and feathered Ivy while speaking at a protest rally organised by "Conscious Citizen Committee" in the city. This committee is run by close aides and followers of the Osman siblings.

A symbolic court was also set up in the middle of Bangabandhu road in the city to hold “trial” of Mayor Ivy.

This is politics as usual in Narayanganj. Shamim and Ivy have wrangled on different issues on some occasions.

Some people however smell a rat. In their views, the Osman brothers have the next city election in their minds. That is why they have ramped up the anti-Ivy actions.

In the first election of the NCC in October 2011, Shamim Osman, a controversial politician, faced a humiliating defeat to Ivy by a margin of more than one lakh votes. His bid to become the city father failed miserably.

The victory of Ivy appeared as a challenge to the primacy of the Osman family in local politics.

The one-sided parliamentary election held on January 5, 2014 appeared as a blessing for the Osman family and others loyal to them. Shamim Osman and Nasim Osman were elected uncontested MPs from two seats in Narayanganj. They have started regaining their control over the local administration since becoming MPs. After the death of Nasim Osman, his older brother Selim Osman was elected in a by-election. 

The next election to NCC is likely middle of next year. Again, Ivy may appear as the main challenger to the Osman siblings.

The changing situation may pose major hurdles for Ivy.

Ivy, a physician, had earlier migrated to New Zealand, but returned and got involved in Awami League politics. In 2003 she was elected mayor of Narayanganj municipality which was later upgraded to City Corporation.

The current maneuvers have encouraged speculations about the future of Narayanganj's politics. 

Will Ivy contest the next mayoral polls or say good bye to dirty politics?