2024-09-25 06:00:19
Legendary footballer Kazi Salauddin was the president of Bangladesh Football Federation for almost one and a half years. However, after the change in the country’s political landscape, he was criticized in various ways. Initially, he did not want to leave the post of president, but later announced that he will not contest in the 2024 BAFF elections.
Since then, football fans have become the focus of interest, who will be the next president of Bafuf? Who can fight for this post? Since then, there have been rumors that Tabith Awal, the former vice-president of Bafuf, may contest for this post. But he did not make any official announcement.
However, today Monday (September 23) in the afternoon, Tabith, who held the position of vice-president in 2012 and 2016 term, announced his election as the president of BAFUF by calling a press conference at a five-star hotel in the capital.
In the press conference, he said, ‘Many of you have asked me whether I will participate in the 2024 elections of the Bangladesh Football Federation? Yes, I participated in the last three elections. I am not only interested in the elections of the Bangladesh Football Federation for the fourth time, I will contest the elections.
Announcing the election for the post of president, he said, ‘Now the question is for which post? We know there are many posts in Bangladesh Football Federation. Starting from the President, the Senior Vice President, four Vice Presidents and members are as per the current policy. Under the current policy, I would like to officially inform you that I will contest the presidential election. We want to elect the president. And if I run for president I hope I win. If I win, I can take the continuation of football forward.’
However, after submitting the nomination form, he will announce the election manifesto only if it is final, ‘Now many questions may come. What are my thoughts on football? Of course you will ask. So I want to share with you in advance, before today I officially announced myself as a candidate. Nominations will be submitted in October. Then if I survive the selection process then I will officially become a candidate. And that’s when I will announce what the election manifesto might be, or what the future plan might be.’
Tabith said that the process of who will be the delegate is going on now. The next step in becoming a delegate is to elect who is interested. Once we understand who is interested, we can decide whether to have a panel, a partial panel, or no panel at all. I cannot comment on that right now.’
About his sports involvement, he said, ‘I am involved in only one sport. Although I play many sports, only football is involved. In football I am involved as an organizer, involved as a sponsor, involved as a fan. Apart from this, I have never been involved in any other organization, any other sports. I did what I did in football. And I believe my actions will give me recognition. I need not say here where I was able to contribute and where I was not.’
Tarfdar Ruhul Amin will fight for the post of president in BAFF elections as a rival of Tabith Awal. Bafuf elections will be held on October 26.