The Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election 2024 of Bnagladesh Football Federation is set to be held today (Saturday) at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka. The sports aficandoes are keeping an eye on the updates and ears open to any gossips and talks to understand who are taking the hot seats to lead the Federation for the coming days.
A total of 46 candidates are running for 21 posts in the election. The election will take place from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Earlier, the BFF Election Commission assigned ballot numbers to 46 candidates, including two for president, one for senior vice president, six for four vice presidents, and 37 for 15 members. On election day, 133 councillors will have the opportunity to vote.
One of the two candidates vying for the presidency in Saturday's BFF elections is former vice-president Tabith Awal, who feels he is the most qualified individual to head the federation.
Tabith recently told the media, "I consider myself a responsible and passionate football fan. I think I am the most qualified applicant for the BFF president position because I am forward-thinking and futuristic."
After beginning his football career in 1995 as a first-division player for Dhanmondi Club, Tabith spent more than ten years playing in the now-defunct Dhaka League. He is a well-known personality in the country's football arena, having previously served as BFF vice president for two terms in 2012 and 2016. Although we was not directly involved in the federation's activity for a while his teams Feni Soccer Club and later NoFeL Sportign Club was busy playing football in different leagues. That way he was always involved in Football.
Not only is he a successful businessman, he is an active member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Tabitha's opponent for the post AFM Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury is a less-known figure and Tabith is likely to win the battle easily. Maybe that's why Tabith was feeling pressure free. Nonetheless, Dinajpur district grassroots organiser AFM Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury was not intending to win the race either. Mizanur's campaign for president is an act of protest against the local football tycoons who failed to fulfil their promises to improve the game.
Now, whoever wins today will replace long-serving BFF president Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, who previously announced that he was not going to compete this time.
The single post of the senior vice-president was a hot topinc for a while. Due to Tarafder Ruhul Amin's withdrawal from the election, Md. Imrul Hasan, the running vice president, was elected senior vice president without opposition. On the last day to withdraw the nomination paper, Tarafder gave five reasons for his decision to withdraw his candidature for the senior vice presidential position on Sunday. Later that day, Tarafder's name was taken from the ballot after the Election Commission accepted the appeal. Imrul was the only contender for the single position after Tarafder withdrew. Imrul therefore became the undisputed senior vice president, unofficially.
A total of six candidates are competing for four vice president posts. They are Wahid Uddin Chowdhury, Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim, Naser Shahriar Jahedi, Sabbir Ahmed Aref, Syed Rummon Bin Wali Sabbir and Shafiqul Islam Manik.
For the 15 post of BFF Executive Members, a total of 37 are contesting. They are ANM Aminul Haque Mamun, former member Amirul Islam Babu, Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj, AKM Nuruzzaman, ABM Monjurul Alom Dulal, Kamrul Hasan Hilton, Khandakar Rokibul Islam, Jasimuddin Khan Khosru, Jakir Hossain Chowdhury, Tipu Sultan, Tasmia Rezowana, Delwar Hossain, former member Bijon Borua, Manos Chandra Das, current member and women's wing chief Mahfuza Akter Kiron, former booter Mahmuda Khatun, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, current member Md Amer Khan, Iqbal Hasan (Jony), Iqbal Hossain, MSD Iakub Ali, Md Aklas Uddin, Md Golam Gaus, Chayed Hasan Kanon, Md Monjurul Karim, Md Mahbubur Rahmn, Md Mohi Uddin Ahmed, Riaz Uddin, Sahadat Hossain, Shaheen Hasan, Shafiqul Azam Bhuiyan, Saifur Rahman Moni, Rawshon Akter Haider, Shakil Mahmud Chowdhury, current member Satyajit Das Rupu, Sakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan Shaheen, and Syed Mohammad Shohidul Islam.
While many of the candidates for the member positions are existing or past members, several are running for the first time.
All that football supporters want from these positions, whether they are new or experienced, is an open and engaged Federation that will work to improve the game in the days ahead.
