Narayanganj
NCC poll: Electioneering ends with exchange of blows, allegations
All eyes from around the country are trained on Narayanganj now, with the city corporation polls just one day away.
Narayanganj city will go to the polls to elect a mayor for the third time Sunday. The time for electioneering is now over, as of Friday midnight.
Although seven candidates are running for the post of the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor, ruling party nominee Ivy and her principal rival – Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP leader who is fighting as an independent candidate – have stolen all the attention.
People are expecting a tight contest between them. Supporters of both candidates have made electioneering neck and neck.
Also, things have hotted up as the two mayor hopefuls are trying to get the last word in, making promises and trying to put the record straight.
This time the NCC elections have 517,357 voters – including 257,519 females. As the candidates are trying to woo voters with promises, all the voters want is the development of their city.
The candidates' qualifications, popularity, party symbol, gender, age, electronic voting machines (EVMs), and turnout could be the deciding factors this year. Women and youth are expected to play a pivotal role. All the heavyweight mayoral candidates are making last-minute efforts to win their votes.
However, there are some 42,418 first-time voters. Whoever wants to win the election must bag a major chunk of the first-timers, according to popular perceptions.
And Shamim Osman never seems to be out of the picture. Despite not being among the seven mayoral candidates, what Shamim does and which way he swings has been at the centre of discussions surrounding the election once again.
Also, the use of EVMs can be another big issue as many will use them for the first time. The NCC polls this year will be held using EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers. Many of the voters have little idea about the machines.
However, a trial using EVMs started at each polling centre in Narayanganj Friday, from morning till evening. Election officials organised the mock elections to explain the use of EVMs to voters.
On the two previous occasions, it was held – since Narayanganj became a city for administrative purposes – the election captured the imagination of the entire country – particularly the first time in 2011.
It was very much the arrival on the scene of Dr Selina Hayat Ivy. The original "rebel candidate," she took on and defeated the Awami League's heavyweight in the area, Shamim Osman, by over 1 lakh votes. That was the start of her enduring rivalry with Shamim – the two torchbearers of two very different strands of the Awami League in Narayanganj.
In 2016, Ivy won again – this time as the Awami League candidate. Shamim by then had become a member of parliament in 2014. He did look to deprive Ivy of the Awami League nomination, but the party's central command defied the recommendation of its Narayanganj unit – with which Shamim held great influence – to back the popular incumbent.
This time, in 2022, the NCC election has once again breathed some life into politics. The city is now awash with campaign posters and banners.
Politicians and their supporters took to the field, carrying out activities in 27 wards of NCC. Candidates were seen campaigning hard to win the polls, going door to door and meeting voters face to face until late into the night.
Although his equation with Ivy is possibly irredeemable – as anyone who has seen their open warfare on the set of a private television channel can understand – questions were being raised as to whether Shamim's drive to put one over Ivy was making him even neglect his duty towards his party by not campaigning for the candidate.
This week Ivy threw a spanner in the works by alleging the man being viewed as Taimur is actually the candidate of the Osman brothers, Shamim and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Selim Osman.
However, Shamim said Monday: "The game will be on and we will win it on January 16."
Following his announcement, most of the Awami League leaders, activists in Narayanganj were seen in full campaign mode for Ivy, who has served as mayor since 2011.
But Ivy said on the same day that "it has become clear from Taimur's activities that he is the candidate nominated by Shamim Osman."
This was the same claim she made earlier, that ruffled feathers in the Awami League high command and forced Shamim to come out and clarify his stance ahead of the election.
Thursday, regarding Shamim Osman's support, Ivy said: "I did not say I will not need his support. The party has nominated me and the partisans, voters will cast votes for me. If one or two votes do not get cast it will not matter."
Taimur said, "My opponent is assuming I got support from certain people and is trying to assassinate my character."
"Also, my supporters, party activists, and leaders are being threatened through police visits to their homes."
Taimur's coordinator and campaign in-charge, also the convener of district BNP Monirul Islam Robi, was arrested by police from his residence in Hirajhil.
N'ganj godown fire under control
A fire that broke out at a cork sheet godown in the Nitaigonj area of Narayanganj Wednesday morning was brought under control within an hour, officials said.
The blaze started around 10.25am and was brought under control around 11.30am, said Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director of Narayanganj fire service.
Read: Fire breaks out at Ctg garments factory
"As many as seven fire tenders have been pressed into service to douse the flames completely," he said.
A probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and the extent of damage, the officer said.
Bangamata Football: Ansar &VDP, Narayanganj earn convincing win
Bangladesh Ansar & VDP and Narayanganj District earned comfortable win in the final round of the Bangamata National Women’s Football Championship at Shaheed Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Tuesday .
In the day’s first match, Narayanganj District, riding on hat-trick by Fahmida, earned a 5-1 goal victory over Satkhira district.
Read:Bangamata Football: Mymensingh, Rajshahi earn comfortable win
Apart from Fahmida’s three goals in the 16th, 46th and 74th minutes, Lamia and Eti netted one each for the port city team in the 39th and 89th minute respectively
Sumaiya scored the consolation goal for Satkhira in the 80th minute.
In the day’s 2nd match, Bangladesh Ansar & VDP outplayed Rangpur District by 4-0 goal.
Sadiya struck twice in the 57th and 71st minute while Munni and Shirin netted one each for Ansar & VDP in the 35th and 52nd minute respectively.
Dhaleshwari trawler capsize: 6 bodies retrieved after 5 days
Divers on Sunday recovered the bodies of six people from the Dhaleshwari River, five days after a trawler capsized in the river off the coast of Narayanganj Sadar upazila. Three of the deceased were identified as Jesmine Akter, 40, her daughter Tasmin Akter, 19, Sabbir, 18, Jochna Begum, 33, Abdul Motaleb, 42, and Awlad Hossain, 30.
READ: Narayanganj trawler capsize: 4 held; Farhan-6 seized The divers from the local fire service retrieved four bodies from the river near Dharmaganj around 8:30 am and two bodies in the evening, said deputy director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defense Abdullah Al Arefin. Earlier on January 5, a trawler, with nearly 70 people on board, overturned as Dhaka-bound passenger launch Farhan-6, hit it near Dharmaganj in Fatulla. At least 8 passengers, including three of the same family, remained missing.
READ: Grandmother, two grandchildren drown, another missing in Cumilla trawler capsize Police detained four people, including the driver and master of MV Farhan-6, Babu Lal Baidya, assistant director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority in Narayanganj said. A case was also filed in this regard on the following day.
NCC election: Taimur removed from BNP chief’s advisory council
BNP on Monday pulled out Taimur Alam Khandaker from its chairperson’s advisory council as he is contesting the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election as an independent mayoral candidate defying the party decision.
Taimur was informed of the party’s action through a letter signed by party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in the afternoon without assigning any reason for removing him from the post.
On December 26 last, Taimur was also relieved from the post of convener of Narayanganj district unit BNP. He is, however, still the party’s primary member.
Contacted, Rizvi said Taimur’s name was withdrawn from the BNP chairperson’s advisory council as per the decision of party high command.
Also read: Govt faces collapse under weight of ‘misdeeds’: BNP
He declined to elaborate the reason behind the party’s punitive action.
A senior BNP leader, wishing anonymity, said their party has a decision not to join any polls under the Awami League government. “That’s why our party has long been boycotting local body polls. But Taimur Alam Khandaker didn’t comply with the party's decision.”
As Taimur has been there in the Narayanganj city polls race as an independent candidate, he said, their party has decided to withdraw him from an important post of party chairperson’s adviser.
Sought his comment on the party’s action, Taimur said, “I have the respect for the decision of the party…I welcome it. I earlier quit the election race in 2011 as per the party’s directives. I heard that a move was there in favour of the ruling party candidate. I think the action was taken against me this time as well for the same reason.”
Also read: Khulna’s Manju relieved from BNP position
He said he is now a candidate of the people of Narayanganj city. "Now I’ve no guardian. I’m guardian of myself and my people. I’ll remain there in the election race till the end.”
Taimur was made a member of the BNP chairperson’s advisory council after the party’s sixth national council held in March, 2016.
The Narayanganj City Corporation polls are scheduled to be held on January 16. Taimur is vying for the post of the mayor with the election symbol ‘Elephant’’.
Incumbent mayor Selina Hayat Ivy is contesting the polls with Awami League’s election symbol “Boat’.
Taimur was also there in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls in 2011 but he stayed away from the voting as per party decision at that time.
Train crashes into bus in N’ganj: Death toll reaches 4
Another man who was injured in train-bus collision at a level-crossing near Narayanganj railway station died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Monday morning, raising the death toll from the accident to four.
The deceased was identified as Mezbah Uddin, 65, a cold storage employee and a resident of Narayanganj port.
The body has been kept at DMCH morgue for an autopsy, said Bacchu Mia, the in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
Read: 3 dead as train crashes into bus at N’ganj level-crossing
On Sunday, three people were killed, including a 7-year-old, and at least 20 others injured when the train hit a ‘Ananda Poribahan’ stuck at the level-crossing on Nawab Sirajuddaula Road near Narayanganj railway station.
The injured were first taken to Narayanganj General Hospital. Of them, three were sent to DMCH and six to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in critical condition for advanced treatment.
Meanwhile, Humayun, a shopkeeper in the area, said the rail gate could not be pulled down due to makeshift shops that have sprung up alongside the level crossing.
3 dead as train crashes into bus at N’ganj level-crossing
Three people were killed, including a 7-year-old, and at least 20 others were injured when a train hit a bus stuck at a level-crossing on Nawab Sirajuddaula Road near Narayanganj railway station on Sunday.
The unidentified child body, missing a leg, was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the doctors announced his death at 8:30 pm, said Bacchu Mia, the in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
It means all three of the confirmed dead so far remain unidentified. They were all males.
Meanwhile two of the injured referred to DMCH for advanced treatment not available in the local hospitals have been admitted and are now receiving treatment according to Bacchu Mia. They include bus driver Nuru Mia, 38, and Manoranjan Saha, 40, a trader.
Also read: Motorcyclist killed in Chattogram road crash
Witnesses said the accident occurred around 6pm when the train, which was inbound towards Narayanganj railway station, hit the Ananda Poribahan bus carrying 10-15 passengers that got stuck on the level crossing due to traffic.
Police recovered two bodies from the spot, said Shah Zaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Narayanganj Sadar Police Station.
Later, firefighters joined the police and started the rescue operation.
The injured were at first taken to Narayanganj General Hospital. Of them, three were sent to DMCH, one of them being the child declared dead, and six to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in critical condition for advanced treatment.
Rail communication on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route resumed after the train line was cleared, the OC added.
Also read: Father, son killed in Panchagarh road crash
Meanwhile, Humayun, a shopkeeper in the area, said the rail gate could not be pulled down due to makeshift shops that have sprung up alongside the level crossing.
Man’s body found inside a sack by Shitalakshya
A body of a man was recovered inside a sack at the bank of the Shitalakshya river in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon on Tuesday evening.
The identity of the man could not be ascertained yet but his age might be 40, said the police. The body was found in a sack filled with bricks near the playground of Manjilkhola Madrasa in Kanchpur Union of the upazila.
Police said that in the afternoon, local children and teenagers went to play in the area and spotted a big sack lying on the bank of the river. Out of curiosity they opened the sack and found the dead body. Locals later informed the police.
READ: Teen housewife 'raped' on moving bus in Narayanganj, 3 held
Sonargaon Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Hafizur Rahman said the body was recovered from the spot but the identity could not be known yet.
Additional Superintendent of Police (B Circle) Md. Billal Hossain said, “We are trying to identify the body. The body will be sent to the morgue of Sadar (Victoria) Hospital for autopsy.”
READ: Father, daughter killed in Narayanganj road crash; 1 injured
Father, daughter killed in Narayanganj road crash; 1 injured
A man and his daughter were killed and another one injured when a truck hit an auto-rickshaw in front of Dak Bungalow of Chasara in Narayanganj on Friday.
The deceased were identified as Altaf Hossain, 45, and his daughter Beli 15, hailing from the Samvupura union of Sonargaon upazila.
Read:35-yr-old biker killed in Sylhet road crash
Beli, an immigrant in the US, arrived home 20 days ago to meet family and relatives.
The accident happened when a brick-laden truck hit the victims’ auto-rickshaw when they were going to Sonargaon from Chashara this noon.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station Mohammad Shah Jamal said they seized the truck and arrested its driver.
Read: Biker killed, pillion rider injured in Dhaka road accident
The bodies were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsies, the OC said.
Legal action will be taken in this regard, the OC added.
4 of a family suffer burn injuries in Narayanganj fire
Four members of a family, including two children, suffered burn injuries as a fire broke out in a house at Kumar Para village in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj early Monday.
The injured are businessman Solaiman, 42, his wife Rima Akhter, 31, their son Mahid, 13, and Arash, 3.
Read: 4 burned in N’ganj as gas cylinder leak causes fire
Solaiman's cousin, Yunus, said the fire might have broken out at the one-storey building before dawn due to leakage in a gas cylinder.
The injured are being treated at the Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge inspector of DMCH police outpost.