Dhaka City Unit Awami League Joint General Secretary Haji Mohammad Salim has extended his support to Sayeed Khokon, the party-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Salim, also an independent lawmaker, yesterday took lunch with Khokon and said he was preparing to campaign for Sayeed Khokon, son of first DCC mayor Mohammad Hanif.
Salim collected nomination form to contest the DSCC polls but he was apparently forced to step aside.
Earlier, party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned of tough action against rebel candidates.
After that Haji Salim was reported to go to India for treatment. He did not submit his nomination form. He has also not made any public appearance over the past several days.
Salim attended the parliament session on March 30, a day after the nomination submission deadline ended on March 29.
He told the speaker during the session that his letter of resignation from his MP post had been discarded.
Sayeed Khokon went to old Dhaka yesterday and offered Juma prayer at Chawkbazar Shahi Masjid before he took lunch at Salim’s home.
After the prayer Sayeed Khokon told Journalists: “Selim bhai has invited me to offer Juma prayer and also to take lunch with him.”
Several Awami League leaders – Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Abdur Razzak, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and MA Aziz – were present on the occasion.
In the Awami League parliamentary party meeting on Thursday night Hasina asked party lawmakers to work together in a bid to ensure winning of her party-endorsed candidates in city corporation polls.
Sources said, several Awami League senior leaders including Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Food Minister Qamrul Islam and the party city unit leaders held a meeting with Haji Selim at Nasim’s home.
Awami League leaders at the meeting asked Selim to work for Khokon.
Haji Salim, who became an independent MP in the 10th parliament by defeating the party nominee Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, declared his intention to contend for the Dhaka South mayor’s post.
Elections to Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city are slated for Apr 28.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina endorsed Syeed Khokon and Annisul Huq for Dhaka North and South respectively and AJM Nasir Uddin for Chittagong City Corporation.
