Shamim Osman, who kept Narayanganj’s political scene charged with his “let the game begin” slogan, has been seen in public again after nearly two years — this time not at a rally or meeting in Narayanganj but thousands of miles away, at an Awami League workers’ meeting in New York in the United States.
The former MP, long in the news for hurling aggressive remarks at rivals, was seen speaking at the New York meeting.
There had been much discussion about his whereabouts since the July-August 2024 mass uprising. Two years on, he was finally seen at a public political programme.
At the meeting, Shamim Osman spoke of his own political role in a largely self-critical tone. “I have failed,” he said, while calling on Awami League leaders and activists to forget their divisions and unite. He said it did not matter who was a bigger or smaller leader; what was needed now was unity.
Explaining his political stance, he said he had understood long ago what was going to happen in the country, claiming he had kept watch on the activities of a “fundamentalist” group. He also commented on the BNP. His main political focus, he claimed, had been on groups that do not accept Bangladesh’s independence, referencing the banning of former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ghulam Azam and recalling a major bomb attack at his own office.
He then turned to the turbulent period of July-August 2024. According to Shamim Osman, he met then prime minister Sheikh Hasina on the night of 2 August, when he proposed pulling the army off the streets, lifting the curfew and holding a large public gathering in Narayanganj. He said he had the capacity to gather 150,000 to 200,000 people in Narayanganj and had spoken of sending word to surrounding areas, calling the people the source of the Awami League’s strength. But, he said, Sheikh Hasina wanted to avoid bloodshed for fear of a possible civil war.
Various allegations were raised against Shamim Osman and members of the Osman family over clashes and shootings involving protesters in Narayanganj on 19 July. Several people, including a child, were killed or injured in the clashes and shootings at that time, and serious allegations were raised against Shamim Osman.
After the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, this much-discussed Narayanganj leader was not seen in public again. He later left the country, and reports have said he has since been staying in the United States.
Trials of Awami League leaders at various levels, including Shamim Osman, are ongoing at the International Crimes Tribunal over the killings and violence around the July uprising.
His appearance at the New York workers’ meeting has sparked fresh discussion in Narayanganj political circles, and his public political remarks after so long have drawn various reactions on social media.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report