Haji Salim to campaign for Khokon

Dhaka City Awami League leader Haji Mohammad Salim, who was apparently ‘forced’ to step down from the Dhaka South mayoral race, is preparing to campaign for Sayeed Khokon, the candidate backed by his party.

Kazi Mobarak Hossainbdnews24.com
Published : 3 April 2015, 09:11 AM
Updated : 3 April 2015, 06:37 PM

Salim’s Personal Secretary Mohiuddin Belal told bdnews24.com on Friday morning that he would go to the Chawkbazar Mosque with Khokon for prayers.

Meanwhile, Khokon’s Personal Secretary Habibul Islam Sumon told bdnews24.com that the city unit’s organising secretary would then have lunch at Salim’s home.

Sources close to the two Dhaka city AL leaders have confirmed that Salim is now gearing up to campaign for Khokon.

Khokon, son of former Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif, had picked up and submitted nominations for mayor following the ruling party’s nod.

But Salim, who became an independent MP in the 10th parliament by defeating the party nominee Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, declared his intention to also contend for the Dhaka South mayor’s post.

According to the law, any MP running for mayor in the city corporation polls will have to give up parliamentary seat.

Salim had earlier indicated that he was ready forego his MP seat. He had also collected the nomination papers to fight for the mayor’s post in Dhaka South.

But he did not submit the form. Media reports say Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina had reportedly asked Salim to withdraw.

Soon afterwards Salim went to India “for treatment and visiting the Ajmer Sharif”.

The Awami League leader was not seen in public of the past several days.

He attended the Parliament session on Mar 30, a day after the nomination submission deadline ended.

He told the Speaker during the session that his letter of resignation from his MP post had been discarded.

Salim’s aide on Mar 25 told bdnews24.com that the letter was handed over to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury but had not been accepted.