Section of local AL leaders still active against Ivy in Nganj city polls
ABU JAKIR
A section of the Awami Leagues Narayanganj district unit is still active against the party-nominated mayoral candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy. This, despite the AL central leaderships repeated attempts to narrow the rift between leaders and workers of the ruling party in the port city.
There is a longstanding dispute between the families of Selina Hayat Ivy and AL local lawmaker, Shamim Osman. It has taken a serious turn before the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections, slated for December 22. Although the party president and Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, held a meeting with Ivy and veteran district leader Shamim Osman at her official residence, Gono Bhaban, to sort things out, they are still engaged in mud-slinging.
After the meeting, Sheikh Hasina directed Osman and other Narayanganj district leaders to follow the partys instructions and work for Ivy in the NCC polls to secure her victory.
Party insiders said Osman, along with a section of AL leaders and workers of the district, is still conspiring against the party-nominated candidate.
During a meeting with AL central leaders last week, Ivy accused her arch rival of spreading propaganda against her in Narayanganj. She told the central leaders that most of the Narayanganj district AL leaders, including some members of the Osman family, are with her. Only a section of the leaders is against her.
On Monday, a team, led by AL presidium member, Kazi Zafarullah, visited Narayanganj and held a meeting. It gave instructions to Ivy.
Kazi Zafar said at the meeting that some elements in the party are hatching a conspiracy against the party nominee in a bid to ensure her defeat. But Sheikh Hasina is closely monitoring the partys activities. She is collecting all information about the elections. The party will take stern action against those who would be involved in such acts of conspiracy, he said.
He also called upon the leaders and workers of the district to work for Ivy to make her victorious in the NCC polls. He said Sheikh Hasina is taking the elections very seriously.
The ruling party is going all-out to ensure victory for Ivy. On instructions from the party president, central leaders of the AL have been holding meetings with associate bodies and their alliance partners at the Dhanmondi party office almost everyday.
After the allocation of electoral symbols for the NCC polls, all candidates, in particular the AL and BNPs mayoral candidates Ivy and Shakhawat Hossain, have started hectic campaigning. They are visiting different places of the port city and seeking blessings and votes from people.
Ivy called upon voters to elect her for the second time.
I hope the residents of Narayanganj will re-elect me, and give me a chance to develop the city further. Ivy is not separated from the boat and the boat is not separated from Ivy, she said.
Shakhawat once again alleged that the Election Commission is yet to ensure a level playing field for all contestants for the NCC polls.
Over 4.79 lakh voters are expected to cast their ballots to elect a city mayor, 27 ward councillors and nine women councillors (reserved seats).
The first election to the NCC was held on October 30, 2011, when Selina Hayat Ivy won, defeating the then ruling Awami League-backed candidate, Shamim Osman.
