NCC polls-2016

Narayanganj charged up for electioneering

After the two major political parties, the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), announced the names of their candidates for the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election, enthusiasm prevails among leaders and workers of both parties. They are busy mobilising people in favour of their  candidates for the mayoral race. Local AL leaders and workers do not expect a debacle for their party candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, while its arch rival, the BNP, apprehends rigging.   BNP leaders have demanded deployment  of the Army to hold the election in a free, fair  and impartial manner so that voters can cast their ballots without any hindrance. They feel if polling is fair, their candidate will win.
 Polling is scheduled for December 22 and the last date for submitting nomination is November 24.  Local AL leaders feel if they work together in favour of their party candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy would secure absolute victory.  There is a long-standing conflict between families of AL leaders Selina Hayat Ivy and Shamim Osman.
Earlier, the Narayanganj AL had submitted a list of three prospective candidates for the mayoral race, excluding Ivy, to the central AL leadership, but the AL high command chose her.
 Talking to this correspondent yesterday (Tuesday), Narayanganj AL president Abdul Hai said: “There is no dispute among leaders and workers of the Narayanganj AL. So, we will work together for the victory of Ivy.”  Replying to a question, Hai said: “The dispute between Shamim Osman and Ivy is not political. It is personal.
They may not agree on many issues, but that wouldn’t have any impact on the NCC poll.”
 “They (Ivy and Osman) are supposed to meet party president Sheikh Hasina today, and I hope the problem will be resolved,” he added.
About the BNP, Hai said the party has fielded a weak candidate and therefore the AL candidate is expected to win.
When contacted, Narayanganj City AL general secretary Khokon Shah, who is loyal to Shamim Osman, said: “There is no dispute among us. As the party president has chosen Ivy, we will have to work in her favour in the upcoming poll.”      
 Talking to The Independent, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said yesterday that everything will be sorted out soon.
 Ivy, the sitting Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor, has got the ruling party’s ticket for contesting the NCC poll. The decision was taken at a meeting of the AL local government nomination board, held at Sheikh Hasina’s Ganabhaban residence last week.
 Ivy was recently made the AL’s Narayanganj district unit vice-president. In the first NCC election in 2011, Ivy had defeated the AL’s mayoral candidate, Shamim Osman. The latter could not be in the mayoral race this time because he is a member of Parliament.

NCC polls-2016

Narayanganj charged up for electioneering

After the two major political parties, the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), announced the names of their candidates for the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election, enthusiasm prevails among leaders and workers of both parties. They are busy mobilising people in favour of their candidates for the mayoral race. Local AL leaders and workers do not expect a debacle for their party candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, while its arch rival, the BNP, apprehends rigging. BNP leaders have demanded deployment of the Army to hold the election in a free, fair and impartial manner so that voters can cast their ballots without any hindrance. They feel if polling is fair, their candidate will win. Polling is scheduled for December 22 and the last date for submitting nomination is November 24. Local AL leaders feel if they work together in favour of their party candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy would secure absolute victory. There is a long-standing conflict between families of AL leaders Selina Hayat Ivy and Shamim Osman. Earlier, the Narayanganj AL had submitted a list of three prospective candidates for the mayoral race, excluding Ivy, to the central AL leadership, but the AL high command chose her. Talking to this correspondent yesterday (Tuesday), Narayanganj AL president Abdul Hai said: There is no dispute among leaders and workers of the Narayanganj AL. So, we will work together for the victory of Ivy. Replying to a question, Hai said: The dispute between Shamim Osman and Ivy is not political. It is personal. They may not agree on many issues, but that wouldnt have any impact on the NCC poll. They (Ivy and Osman) are supposed to meet party president Sheikh Hasina today, and I hope the problem will be resolved, he added. About the BNP, Hai said the party has fielded a weak candidate and therefore the AL candidate is expected to win. When contacted, Narayanganj City AL general secretary Khokon Shah, who is loyal to Shamim Osman, said: There is no dispute among us. As the party president has chosen Ivy, we will have to work in her favour in the upcoming poll. Talking to The Independent, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said yesterday that everything will be sorted out soon. Ivy, the sitting Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor, has got the ruling partys ticket for contesting the NCC poll. The decision was taken at a meeting of the AL local government nomination board, held at Sheikh Hasinas Ganabhaban residence last week. Ivy was recently made the ALs Narayanganj district unit vice-president. In the first NCC election in 2011, Ivy had defeated the ALs mayoral candidate, Shamim Osman. The latter could not be in the mayoral race this time because he is a member of Parliament.