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BFF Elections

Campaign in motion

Sports Reporter
Campaign for Monday's election of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) got momentum yesterday after both the panels tried to attract the media in different ways.
While legendary footballer Kazi Salahuddin came out with his election manifesto, new face Maj Gen (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury and his panel were still lingering in the past during separate press briefings in the city.
The panels were finalised on Wednesday night and it looks to be a tight race as neither side feels they can rely on just faith on the councillors.
There are rumours that money, vengeance and the stock voters of Forum will play their parts in the polls to elect a new executive committee for the four years.
Salahuddin, in presence of his fellow candidates, renewed his promise to keep football on the fieldfor 10-11 months.
He, however, showed his anxiousness over outside interference.
"A few people have been trying to damage my image. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) secretary-general and CEO have also been trying to interfere in the polls and intimidate the councillors," said Salahuddin at the Youngmen's Club, from where he has got his councillorship this time.
"I hope that the BOA would be able to keep its hands off the election to maintain its neutral image. I also call the chief of BOA and NSC General Moeen U Ahmed to stop any such attempt," said the former striker and national captain.
"Councillors have the right to vote any one but we hope that the BFF election would be without any interference from any man."
Salahuddin assured that the federation would be a real president-run one unlike the past if his panel were elected.
"We will have four age-group national teams and our approach would be modern. The national
team have to have experienced men in charge with football background. We will make sure that the district sports and football associations and clubs of Dhaka have the coordination to work together.
"We will have a vision to take our football as far as possible," added Salahuddin, the only player to have played under a professional system.
However, BOA's CEO Col (retd) Wali Ullah dismissed Salahuddin's allegations.
"He has to give proof before saying these things. Yes, I was interested to have a united panel but once the effort failed, I have not in connection with the election," Wali told reporters later in the day.
Amin Ahmed and his colleagues, meanwhile, were at a city hotel here they mainly tried to launch an anti-campaign.
"The other panel has been trying to say we have done an unjust deed by raising a point about Salahuddin's imprisonment. We do not support the cause
for which Salahuddin and three other players were convicted, ’ said a written statement.
"What we are trying to now is that his panel has been abusing power by using BFF facilities for the election. They have manipulated the forming of DFAs and also now trying to use Forum in a bid to control football.
"They also once forced the ex-BFF general secretary' (Harunur Rashid) to resign his post and did not let candidates to take part in the election. This was also unjust," the statement added.
Zakaria Pintoo, Harunur Rashid, Salam Murshedi, Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul and Nurul Alam Chowdhury were also present.
While the two parties tried to get at each other, the BFF at an executive committee meeting last night approved that the 14 clubs and DFAs will be able to have replacement voters in the election for the executive members of the incumbentcommittee.
According to Article No 21 of the BFF statutes, no EC members can resign or vote but the FIFA/AFC have given special permission to change their councillors so that the vote of the clubs/DFAs are not wasted.
Meanwhile, AFC general secretary Dato Paul Mony and vice-president Monilal Fernando will arrive in Dhaka within the next two days as observers of the BFF polls.