Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj

Everyone has disappeared. Not a single Awami League leader is visibly present in Narayanganj. Amidst this volatile political climate, former city mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy stood out. She roamed her beloved city openly—unafraid, unwavering. “I will not leave my city, especially not my home,” she said boldly. “I do politics for the people. If they no longer want me, I will quit. Those who fled the country are cowards—they didn’t flee for the party, they fled because they looted from the people.”

 Yet, today that same strong-willed former mayor is behind bars. Her arrest was filled with dramatic twists. The drama began on the night of May 9 at 10 PM at ‘Chunka Kutir’ in Deobhog. First, a police team arrived. By 11 PM, a full-scale police presence had gathered in front of her house. Hundreds of men and women surrounded the police, declaring through loudspeakers: “We will not let our mayor be taken.”

 Senior police officials entered her house and informed her that she was to be arrested under the Anti-Discrimination Murder Case. Ivy said she would not go at night, but would cooperate in the morning. In the meantime, supporters barricaded the main road with sticks and bamboo. Ivy addressed them: “I will go with the police in the morning. Please don’t create any chaos.”

 However, things unfolded differently. On May 10 at 6 AM, police departed with Dr. Ivy. As the convoy passed through Kalirbazar, it was attacked with crude bombs. Five people, including two policemen, were injured. Ivy’s supporters were later implicated in the case.

 This sequence of events created a huge uproar among the general public and intellectuals in Narayanganj. People are now critically analyzing Awami League politics and its local leadership. Most agree: compared to the Osman family, the courage of the Chunka family—especially Dr. Ivy—commands greater respect. Even the most stubborn conscience is sometimes swayed by truth.

 Once a dominant figure in Narayanganj’s political scene, Selina Hayat Ivy now finds herself incarcerated. The district Awami League has long been divided—colloquially known as the “railway east-west” or “north-south” divide. This schism dates back to the early days of Bangladesh’s independence, beginning with the rivalry between A.K.M. Shamsuzzoha and Ali Ahmad Chunka.

Today, this rivalry lives on through their descendants—Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy vs. A.K.M. Shamim Osman and Salim Osman. The political tug-of-war has continued, but it is Ivy who has most recently held power. A popular figure both within and outside her party, Ivy was elected mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation three times in a row—making her a political force to be reckoned with.

While the Chunka family maintains a clean political image, members of the Osman family are often embroiled in controversies. The north-south divide became prominent in 1973 when Chunka sought the Awami League’s endorsement for mayor but was opposed by Shamsuzzoha, who backed another candidate. Chunka ran independently and won by a landslide.

 In the 1980 Awami League district conference, Chunka defeated Shamsuzzoha to become president. After Chunka’s death in 1984, Ivy went abroad for studies. During her absence, the Osman family rose to political dominance. Nevertheless, under Nazma Rahman, the city’s Awami League remained loyal to Chunka’s legacy.

 In 1986, Nazma Rahman contested in the national election under the Awami League, but Shamim Osman allegedly supported his brother Nasim Osman, a Jatiya Party candidate, leading to tension. Ivy returned to the country in 1992 and became active in politics again. In 2003, while the BNP was in power, Ivy won the mayoral election as an independent with the “Candle” symbol.

 The city corporation was officially formed in 2011, and Ivy's candidacy again clashed with the Osman family. Although Shamim Osman received partial party backing, Ivy gained grassroots support and won with over 100,000 votes.

 After this loss, Shamim Osman publicly sparred with Ivy. Both families blamed each other for the infamous Taqi murder and the sensational seven-murder case. Their rivalry even played out on national TV. At one point, Shamim Osman’s supporters allegedly defamed Ivy with obscene banners and distorted images around the city.

 In the next city elections, the Osman family again opposed Ivy. Despite their efforts to block her nomination, the central Awami League selected her. Eventually, Shamim Osman pretended to support Ivy by publicly showing his vote for her.

 In her second term, Ivy led efforts to clear hawkers from footpaths—actions opposed by Shamim Osman. This led to clashes. On January 16, 2018, during a press briefing, Ivy was attacked. Her supporters shielded her from the assault. The chaos prompted national attention, and even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her anger.

 In the 2022 city election, new political drama unfolded. Ivy’s main rival, BNP leader Taimur Alam Khandaker, was accused of being a proxy for the Osman family. Eventually, under pressure, Shamim Osman supported the party’s official candidate but expressed his resentment.

 Despite all odds and conspiracies, Ivy once again triumphed. She remains a symbol of unwavering leadership in Narayanganj.