At least three directors of Bangladesh Cricket Board have bought nomination papers to contest in the forthcoming election of Bangladesh Football Federation, scheduled on April 30.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club president Manzur Kader bought the nomination paper for the senior vice-president post while Mohammedan director in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan bought nomination papers for both senior vice-president and vice-president post.
Manzur and Lokman were joined by another BCB director Nazib Ahmed, who also bought nomination papers for both senior vice-president and vice-president post.
The BCB constitution allows its directors to hold the portfolio in just one more sporting bodies, making the trio, who all belong to the anti-incumbent Bachao Football panel, eligible for a BFF position.
Another former BCB director Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul joined the foray from the same panel, taking nomination papers for the senior vice-president and vice-president posts.
Earlier the panel had introduced Member of Parliament for Narshingdi-2 constituency, Kamrul Ashraf Khan Poton, as their president candidate.
Manzur, who is leading the campaign against current BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, however said he is yet to make final decision about contesting in the elections.
‘My people have brought the paper on behalf of me but I have not yet decided over my participation in the election,’ Manzur told New Age on Sunday.
‘There is enough time to take the final decision, let’s see what happens.’
Tutul, a former national footballer but mostly renowned as a cricket organiser, refused to make any comment about his candidacy.
‘I would give my comment later after observing the whole situation deeply,’ said Tutul who is also the sports secretary of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League.
Meanwhile, the combined panel led by incumbent BFF president Salahuddin collected 24 nomination papers against 21 posts on Sunday.
Salahuddin bought the form for the president post for the third successive time while Kamrul Ashraf Khan Poton, former footballer Golam Robbani Helal and president of Tongi Krira Chakra Nurul Islam Nuru halve also collected forms for the president post.
The ruling panel kept their faith on Salam Murdhedy for the senior vice-president post for third successive time while the opposite panel collected four papers for the same post.
Election for the four vice-president posts is poised to be an interesting one as a total of 12 papers had been bought for these posts.
Current vice-presidents Kazi Nabil Ahmed and Badol Roy will take part in the election for combined panel along with president of Brothers Union Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi and secretary general of Chittagong Abahani Shamsul Haque Chowdhury.
Apart from Lokman, Tutul and Najib Ahmed, the Bachao Football panel also bought nomination paper for vice-president posts on behalf of former footballer Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu.
Current BFF vice-president Tabith M Awal, president of Arambagh Krira Sangha Mominul Haque Sayeed, current executive member and additional commissioner of police Sheikh Mohammad Maruf Hasan and former national player Khurshed Babul also bought papers for the vice-president posts.
A total of 41 nomination papers were sold for the 15 executive member posts.
-With New Age input
