Amid the demand for resignation, President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin cleared his stance saying that he won’t step down from his position in the BFF under any pressure.
A group of football fans has been demanding his resignation since Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid the student-led upsurge.
The former national football star and also the SAFF President Salahuddin wants to compete in the next BFF election for the 5th term scheduled for October 26 this year, UNB reports.
Regarding the issue, Salahuddin told local media that, " I am not resigning; but I will contest the election again because I will not leave football in the face of any threats."
"I’m not an ordinary person. I have a long football background, having represented and captained the national team. I’m also a freedom fighter and have received national sports awards, the independence award, the liberation award, and the Sheikh Kamal Lifetime Achievement Award during the regimes of Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad, Khaleda Zia, and the Awami League. I will leave football on my terms, not due to threats" he added
"If they are so popular, they should run in the ensuing elections themselves. Why are they so concerned about me? If I am a failure organiser, the councillors would not vote for me. I was first elected BFF president against Awami League organisers," he claimed.
Football fans group, the Bangladesh Football Ultras demanded the resignation of Salahuddin, the federation’s Senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy and BFF EC member and chairman of BFF Women's Football Committee Mahfuza Akter Kiran last Sunday.
A good number of the Ultras members had gathered at the BFF House on that day and chanted slogans demanding resignation of top BFF officials-- Salahuddin Salam and Kiran --criticising their autocratic role and organisational failure.
However, senior vice president Salam Murshedy, also a former parliament member from Khulna -4 constituency, has already resigned from his post.
