AL 'supports' Shamim Osman

Three organising secretaries of Awami League claimed Thursday evening that the party had backed Shamim Osman for Narayanganj mayor as he battled to win support over Selina Hayat Ivy from party stalwarts.

However, acting general secretary of the party Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said he had no knowledge of any party decision on the matter. "I have no clue about it," he told bdnews24.com.

"Ask them," Hanif said Thursday night, declining to go any further.

The trio — Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmed Hossain and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan — spent two hours at the campaign office of the long-time party faithful Shamim in a dramatic show of support.

Ivy, the other major mayoral contender alongside BNP's Toimur Alam Khandker, is also a ruling party member and daughter of one of the party founders—Ali Ahmed Chunka.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was categorical, however. "We have shown our support to Shamim Osman," he told as he was driving back to Dhaka after a visit to Narayanganj.

Top AL leaders including prime minister Sheikh Hasina have met and tried, unsuccessfully, to pursuade both Shamim and Ivy to end their rivalry. But the party had not made its official position known even till the last hours of nomination withdrawal on Wednesday.

"I am sure you have realised now why we are here," Ahmed Hossain told Shamim supporters at the camp. "I am sure you have got all your answers now."

"This is the launch of the campaign for Shamim Osman. There's no reason for you to get confused," he said.

"The three of us – organising secretaries of the party – are here together. This proves who gets the party support," said Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan.

Ivy said the public show of support for Shamim by the three Awami League organising secretaries in the mayor race should not be construed as party's backing.

"In no way can it be seen as his winning the support of the party. It's only support by Shamim Osman's friends. Any of his friends can support him, but that has got nothing to do with the party as a whole," she said.