The forthcoming election of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation got a new shape on Tuesday when two candidates for the general secretary post forged a partnership
to ensure victory in the upcoming election.
Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited were able to create an affiliation between Shajed AA Adel and Shafiullah Al Munir, who both previously expressed their desire to become the new general secretary through the impending election of the BHF.
Former general secretary Shajed AA Adel decided to withdraw his candidacy from the general secretary post and agreed to take part in the election in the senior vice-president position. Shajed sacrificed his candidature to Shafiullah Al Munir, chairman of the Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited hockey committee, who will now fight for the general secretary post.
It was learned that Shajed wished to take part in the election for the general secretary position but his club, Mohammedan reserved their all-out support for Munir so Shajed was left with no other options but to pursue the post of the senior vice-president after receiving the councillorship from Mohammedan.
Munir, who transformed Mohammedan into a champion side in the hockey premier league, was mostly renowned for recruiting top class players, a foreign coach and a trainer for the team.
Mariner Youngs Club Council nominated Munir as a councilor in the election.
Mohammedan finalised the participation of the two candidates on Tuesday and were hopeful that they will be elected by the 71 councilors.
‘I respect the decision of the club and I put all my support to (Shafiullah Al) Munir to become the general secretary and I have agreed to participate in the election for the post of senior vice-president,’ said Shajed in a press conference held at the premises of Mohammedan club.
Munir, chairman of Index Group, conveyed his appreciation to Mariner Youngs Club and Mohammedan for their uninhibited support.
‘I am very grateful to those two clubs and I will try my level-best to develop the game. Nowadays, sports is a product and my first vision is to sell the product in the financial market. I will build up a marketing group to in
crease the interest among the sponsors and one of my other visions is to nurture raw talent from the grass-root level,’ said an optimistic Munir.
A group of senior organisers including Shamsul Bari, Abdus Sadek and Mirza Farid Ahmed Milu, however, are trying to build an understanding between the two parties for the betterment of hockey in the country.
Shamsul Bari, former general secretary and current member of the BHF, attended the program as a guest.
‘I am here because of the club’s invitation but it does not mean that we support this panel. We are attempting to unite the two parties and construct a coalition committee,’ said Bari.
-With New Age input
