Hasina raps Osmans

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday came down hard on party lawmaker Shamim Osman for taking position against AL mayoral nominee Selina Hayat Ivy.

The PM was in a meeting with senior Narayanganj AL leaders apparently to settle the long-standing rivalry between Shamim and Ivy ahead of the December 22 city polls.

Hasina asked Shamim either to support Ivy or quit the party, a meeting source said.

As the two rival leaders became involved in an altercation, Hasina took position in favour of Ivy and said everyone will have to follow party decisions. She asked all to work together for the AL's victory.

Narayanganj AL sources said Osman family was trying to secure Jatiya Party's nomination for late Nasim Osman's widow. Former JP lawmaker Nasim, also elder brother of Shamim, died on April 30, 2014. 

Emerging from the meeting last night, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said all the senior leaders from Narayanganj pledged to the party chief to remain united in favour of Ivy. 

“We all are united. We will work together to secure victory. There is no alternative to ensuring victory for boat [electoral symbol of AL],” he said.

On Friday, the AL Parliamentary Board unanimously nominated Ivy for mayor. Her nomination came days after the party's Narayanganj city unit at an extended meeting picked three leaders for recommending their names to AL high-ups.

The three leaders -- city unit President Anwar Hossain, Siddhirganj upazila unit President Mojibur Rahman and Bandar upazila unit President MA Rashid -- were present at yesterday's meeting.

According to meeting sources, Anwar wanted to resign from the party as he was denied party's ticket. Shamim also wanted to quit the party.

As Shamim alleged that Ivy spoke against the PM on many previous occasions, Hasina said she did not want to hear anything against Ivy.

At one stage, Ivy told Hasina to nominate Shamim as the mayoral candidate.

Hasina then asked the AL leaders to focus on the city polls, forgetting all differences. She directed them to work for “boat” and assured them of resolving all problems.

The PM blasted Osman family for its role after the murder of Tanvir Mohammad Toki, son of Narayanganj Gonojagoron Mancha Convenor Rafiur Rabbi.

The 17-year-old bright student was found dead in March 2013 two days after he had gone missing. Rabbi repeatedly blamed Osman family for his son's killing.

BNP PICKS SHAKHAWAT

The BNP yesterday picked Shakhawat Hossain Khan, a lawyer of the plaintiffs in the sensational seven-murder case, for mayor of Narayanganj.

He was in the limelight when he led the lawyers' movement for ensuring trial for the murder of seven people, including local lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar, in April 2014.

Hours after finalising Shakhawat's name, the BNP demanded the Election Commission deploy army in Narayanganj to ensure free and fair polls.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Shakhawat said there was no “level playing field” in the district. He called upon the EC to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates.

Party insiders said although Shakhawat was not a prominent leader, he had an advantage over the other mayoral hopefuls due to his “heroic image” during the movement.

Shakhawat does not hold any post in the BNP's central and district committees. According to his bio-data, the lawyer was a former general secretary of Dhaka Zila Lawyers Association and an assistant law secretary of Narayanganj BNP.

The BNP nominee urged the district administration to work neutrally so that all candidates can get a congenial atmosphere to conduct electioneering.

He also called for arresting local terrorists and recovering illegal arms from the city. “The people of Narayanganj are very enthusiastic about the election. They want a congenial atmosphere so that they can exercise their franchise without fear and intimidation,” he added.

He further demanded the EC replace the “partisan administration officials with neutral ones”.

Earlier in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office announced Shakhwat's name as the mayoral nominee.

On Monday night, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had a meeting at her Gulshan office with the mayoral hopefuls and grassroots leaders of Narayanganj to pick party candidate.

Meeting sources said most of the leaders suggested nominating Taimur Alam Khandaker or former MP Abul Kalam Azad. But the two expressed unwillingness to run the election.

Meanwhile, addressing a discussion in the capital, BNP leader Rizvi Ahmed yesterday demanded the government assist the EC in deploying army in Narayanganj so that voters can exercise their franchise freely.