Shamim Osman better work as MP than resign to join my campaign: Ivy

After Shamim Osman spoke of his readiness to resign as MP to join her campaign, the Awami League's Narayanganj City mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy says ‘she will be happy if he continues working as a legislator’.

Narayanganj Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 Dec 2016, 06:49 PM
Updated : 10 Dec 2016, 05:54 AM

"I don't want him to resign. He has many responsibilities as MP. My request is that he will do his duties as an MP," Ivy told reporters when asked for comments.

Shamim, who has been at loggerheads with Ivy for a long time, announced his full support for her on Friday, five days after she kicked off the campaign with the Awami League's 'boat' symbol.

He told a press conference that he is ready to sacrifice his membership in Parliament to work for 'younger sister' Ivy if the party chief, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, wants.

Five years ago, Ivy became first mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation by beating Shamim Osman.

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.

After the last city corporation election in 2011, the Ivy-Shamim rivalry climaxed following the murder of teenager Tanvir Ahmed Twaki and the sensational murder of seven people. They even traded ugly comments at a heated TV talk-show.

Ivy's name was not included in the list of candidates recommended by the Shamim-influenced Narayanganj AL City committee 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, amid concerns over chances of the Awami League losing the elections due to internal feud, party President Hasina convened a meeting with Shamim and Ivy at the Ganabhaban. The Awami League said Ivy is the party candidate and the leaders and activists in Narayanganj will work for her.

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

At the press conference on Friday, Shamim said he does not hold a 'grudge' against Ivy. He also announced that his supporters will seek votes for Ivy from Saturday.

Later, Ivy told reporters: "The activists belong to Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina, 'boat'. I don't have any worker. I think no-one has any personal worker. Everyone will work as worker of the leader, and the symbol 'boat'." 

She agreed with Shamim that there is 'no division' in the party now.

"We all are continuing with our election campaign together. There can be competition, but no division," she said.

She also expressed the hope that the people of Narayanganj will re-elect her mayor on Dec 22.