Uncertainty over Haji Salim’s participation in Dhaka South City polls

The ‘sudden lack of activity’ of Awami League’s Dhaka metropolitan unit Joint General Secretary Haji Mohammad Salim has given rise to speculations about his contesting the Dhaka South City Corporation elections.

The independent MP, who is willing to resign from Parliament, has confined himself to his Lalbagh residence since Wednesday morning and is not meeting anyone.

He collected nomination papers to contest election for the Dhaka South mayor with about 100 supporters in tow on Tuesday, but he is not even taking telephone calls.

His supporters who gathered at his office on the ground floor of the residence were shooed off by his office staff, “Sir is sleeping. He won’t meet anyone” - they were told.

Such aloofness has set the grapevine buzzing with rumours that he is withdrawing from the mayoral race.

Some are even saying that the Awami League leader has been asked to step aside by party high-ups.

A number of online news media outlets also ran news hinting at his possible withdrawal from the contest. But no-one close to Salim is willing to speak about the issue.

His personal secretary, Mohiuddin Helal, told bdnews24.com: “A resignation letter was handed over to the Speaker on his behalf on Tuesday. But, it was not accepted. There is still time. We are still hopeful.”

But, Parliament officials have denied receiving the letter.

Salim, in his speech in Parliament on Tuesday, had indicated that he would be relinquishing his seat he had won as an independent candidate, defeating ruling party nominee Jalal Mohiuddin.

He will have to step down from the office of MP by Mar 29, the last date for the submission of nominations, if he wishes to contest the corporation election.

It is being said that Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League Organising Secretary Sayeed Khokon has already received the backing of the party to contest for the mayoral race.

Khokon, the son of former Dhaka Mayor Mohammad Hanif, has already collected nomination papers.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Wednesday, Khokon said he had heard that Salim would not contest the polls, but no one from the party high-ups confirmed the development to him.

After a meeting of Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League on Tuesday, two top leaders of the party’s city unit Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Quamrul Islam told reporters that the party was yet to decide on the issue.