Staff Reporter :
Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election has taken a crucial turn after lawmaker Shamim Osman announced participating electoral campaign in favour of Awami League (AL) candidate Selina Hayat Ivy.
Independent candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker has said that he is people’s candidate in Narayangonj, not the favourite of Shamim Osman or others. On the other hand, Ivy has raised question for whom Shamim Osman will conduct campaign in this mayoral race when his previous activities were against her.
Meanwhile, at a press briefing yesterday Shamim Osman MP said he had initiated campaign in favour of Awami League-nominated candidate for the NCC polls from Monday.
“I didn’t campaign for the ‘Boat’ the way I should have. But, I am starting from today (Monday),” Shamim Osman had said. He also said everyone wants him on their side. “I kept quiet because it is not my job. But different issues have been created centring my silence and my political image got damaged. Some people are harming the party from within, some from outside,” the MP said.
“I was just thinking that I will hold a press conference on behalf of our party. It’s a matter of five lakh voters. Our root is in the ground,” he said.
Talking about the torture on Osman family, allegedly by BNP, Shamim Osman said, “Narayanganj is the base of Boat, Narayanganj is the base of Sheikh Hasina, Narayanganj is the base of Bangabandhu and the base of those who support Liberation War. Don’t try to play any game here.”
Shamim Osman said nobody cares who is contesting the elections. The only thing people should consider is the “Boat” symbol.
Asked why people called him “a godfather”, Shamim Osman said people can call him godfather or brother — anything they want. “Just don’t call me a godmother. Because I am a man. I am used to hearing these slangs,” he said.
About AL-nominated mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy’s allegation that Shamim Osman is supporting independent candidate Taimur Alam Khandakar, he said what she said is her business. “If I respond, it will affect the election,” he said.
On the other hand, in front of the city unit Awami League office on Monday morning Ivy told journalists “I don’t know for which symbol Shamim Osman will campaign for, I don’t need to know. People support me.”
Ivy further said, “Looking at the past elections, it can be seen that no matter what happens, the elections are held in a festive atmosphere here, it would be happen this time too. It is not me but the media is always busy with Shamim Osman. I am busy with my people.”
“I don’t know why Shamim Osman takes position against the party’s decision. I don’t even know what he will say at the press conference. It doesn’t matter to me whether he supports me or not.”
She said, “He (Shamim Osman) is talking much against me, which he should not have said. He knows not only me but also my father. The allegations he made at the press conference held yesterday are completely unfounded. Shamim Osman has been building this ground against me for the last one-and-a-half year.”
Mentioning that works of the local government work is a continuous process, Ivy said, “Narayanganj city residents have always found me with them in any purpose. They will choose me. Because when the people of this city could not speak at all, they were afraid, I don’t know where the other candidates were.”
Furthermore, Taimur Alam Khandaker has alleged that his supporters are being harassed by sending police to their houses.
“People were threatened by sending police to their houses on Sunday night, so that they would not work for me but for the boat. My supporters are being harassed,” said Taimur while conducting election campaign at in Madanpura area of Narayanganj on Monday morning.
Taimur asked the city dwellers not pay heed in any kind of rumors and said, “Be aware and do not listen to any rumors. There will be a lot of torture; we have to move forward by preventing that torture.”
He further said, “You will check that under which contractor’s influence the city corporation runs its activities. You will find that one or another name will come out. If there is no name then tell that Taimur Alam Khandaker lied.”
