Shamim Osman sets 'sweet punishment' for Selina Hayat Ivy

AKM Shamim Osman says he has thought of 'some punishment' for Narayanganj mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy and it will be handed down after the Dec 22 polls.

Shamim, a member of influential Osman family, spoke about the 'punishment' when asked about his rivalry with Ivy at a press conference in Narayanganj on Friday.

The MP claims now there is no enmity in the Narayanganj Awami League and the feud with 'younger sister' Ivy is 'nothing unnatural'.

"But I will give her a punishment. That will be given after Dec 22. We will go to the leader (Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) after the victory. You (journalists) will also be there outside.

"I love ice-cream very much. I will fine Ivy and ask her to treat me to loads of ice-cream," Shamim said of the plan.

Ivy became first mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation by beating Shamim Osman in 2011.

The rivalry between their families go back ages when Ivy's father Ali Ahmed Chunka was elected Narayanganj Municipality chairman from Osman family's rival faction in the Awami League in 1974.

In the latest show of bad blood, Ivy's name was not included in the list of candidates recommended by the Shamim-influenced Narayanganj City committee of the Awami League for the upcoming elections.

The central committee of the party, however, put faith in Narayanganj District Awami League Vice-President Ivy, who has represented Narayanganj City for over a decade.

Later, amidst concerns over chances of the Awami League losing the elections due to the internal feud, party President Hasina convened a meeting with Shamim and Ivy at the Ganabhaban.

The party chief ‘ordered’ them to iron out differences and work together to win the Narayanganj election.

At Friday's conference, Shamim said he doe not hold a 'grudge' against Ivy.

"She said many things. But did she do it alone? Didn't I say anything? Did she alone hurt me with her comments? She has also been pained by my comments. If she did a little mistake, my faults were bigger, because I am her elder brother," he said.

"You'll have to open your mind if you do politics. I don't have a grudge against Ivy now because she is my younger sister.

"Moreover, I don't and will not until death think beyond the order of our leader Sheikh Hasina, my ideal, my mother," he added

He said it was 'nothing unusual' to get into a feud with someone in a 'large party of 20 million'.

"But we will sacrifice the petty interests for the sake of greater interest. So I hope we will overcome everything and 'boat' will surely win," he said.

Sarees for Ivy

Shamim said at the news conference that he cannot join Ivy's election campaign because the electoral code of conduct bars MPs from campaigning for candidates in local government elections.

"But as a brother, I have found a way," he said.

He said he asked a prominent saree shop in Narayanganj to print 'boats' on two sarees.

"Here are those sarees for my sister Ivy," he said, unfolding the presents for Ivy.

"When Ivy will hit the areas to seek vote, wearing these 'boat'-printed sarees, though I will not be there, she will feel that her brother's blessings are with her," Shamim said.

Mindful of the bar imposed by the electoral code, he said, "I can seek blessings. I hope you all will pray so that the right candidate wins."