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AL votes for Osman

Turns its back on 'clean image’ aspirant for Narayanganj city polls

Hasan Jahid Tusher and Rakib Ahammed
Putting an end to the weeks-long drama and confusion, the Awami League has finally decided to stand behind Shamim Osman in his bid for the office of mayor in the
Narayanganj City Corporation election late this month.
“The Awami League high command
has decided to support Shamim Osman in the polls, and we have conveyed the message to him," Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, an organising secretary of the ruling party, told The Daily Star last night.
Khalid, along with two other
organising secretaries --Ahmed Hossain and Abu Sayeed Al
Mahmud Swapan — visited Shamim Osman’s campaign office in Narayanganj where the candidate was informed of the decision of the party high command.
The trio did not, however, meet Selina Hayat Ivy, the other mayoral hopeful from the AL in the October 30 polls.
AL insiders said party President Sheikh Hasina sent the three-member delegation to Narayanganj to convey the party's decision to Shamim Osman.
They added that Ivy might stand aside from the campaign in a few days.
In an immediate reaction, Shamim Osman said all tlie leaders and supporters of the Awami League in the district had been cheered by the decision.
Referring to Ivy as his younger sister, Shamim urged her to work with him to win the election. “We are passing through a crucial time as the opposition parties and the anti-liberation forces are out to hinder the war crimes trials. In these circumstances, all progressive forces will have to work together," he said.
“I hope Ivy will respond to my call and withdraw from the electoral race and work for me," he added.
However, Narayanganj town unit AL President Anwar Hossain, who is known to be close to Ivy, said she would not quit the race.
“It's a local government non-partisan election. So there is no question of party support here. Ivy has the support of the locals and she will run in the election,” he toldThe Daily Star.
Shamim Osman, a former AL lawmaker, and Ivy, vice-president of Narayanganj city unit AL, had both been expecting party backing for their candidacies.
Tension ran high in Dhaka and Narayanganj over the past many days when the top leadership of the party, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, failed to persuade either of the two to stand down. Sheikh Hasina herself sat thrice with the two separately in vain.
On October 9, the party at a
meeting between Hasina and some senior leaders at Gono Bhaban "unofficially decided” to back Ivy in the polls. As a "reward” for pulling out, meeting sources had told The Daily Star, Shamim would be offered posts in the party and in the government.
The move failed as Shamim, who now has no party post, reportedly refused to accept those "rewards”.
A number of senior AL leaders had earlier told The Daily Star that either of the two would pull out on Wednesday, the last date for withdrawing candidacy, but neither of them did.
According to the nomination paper submitted to the Narayanganj election office, Shamim stands accused in five cases including murder, corruption and theft.
Ivy has no cases filed against her.
Another frontrunner Taimur Alam Khondaker, who is contesting the polls with support from BNR faces nine graft charges.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday expressed dissatisfaction at the "direct interference" of the ruling AL in persuading one of its aspirants to step aside.