Ivy gets Awami League nod for Narayanganj city polls

The decision was taken at a meeting of local government nomination board held at Gono Bhaban, residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, confirms Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif. On Thursday night, Selina Hayat Ivy wrote a letter to the premier seeking nomination from the ruling party's chief. Earlier on Tuesday, Narayanganj city unit Awami League in an extended meeting proposed the names of three leaders to central committee as mayoral candidates for the city polls. The letter was handed over to Abdus Sobhan Golap, office secretary of Awami League party office. Ivy said: “I hope that the party will give me nomination for contesting in the city polls.” About not putting her name in proposed mayoral candidates' list she said: “The party leaders insulted me becasue I am a woman. I have been humiliated in many ways and residents of the city [Narayanganj city] know it. People of the Narayanganj do not expect anything from those people who cannot respect women.” The proposed candidates are Anwar Hossain, Awami League district unit president, Mojibur Rahman, president of Siddhirganj upzila unit Awami League, and MA Rashid, Bandar upzila unit president. After the meeting, Chandon Shil, acting president of Nrayanganj city unit Awami League, said they had proposed the names of three leaders following a direction of Awami League central committee. The central committee has asked the city Awami League to propose the names of three candidates considering their acceptance and popularity among city dwellers by November 20. Narayanganj City Corporation will go to polls on December 22, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad made the announcement of polls schedule at the media centre of the Election Commission Secretariat on Monday. As per the schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is November 24, while the date for the scrutiny of the nomination papers is on November 26-27 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is December 4. The election symbol will be allocated among the contestants on December 5. The maiden election to NCC was held on October 30, 2011. Dr Selina Hayat Ivy was elected country’s first female city mayor defeating Awami League-backed candidate Shamim Osman.