Resigned to run, now out: Asif Mahmud, Mahfuj Alam exit election after NCP-Jamaat tie-up
Despite these developments and repeated social media announcements by Asif Mahmud that he would contest from Dhaka-10, both former advisers have now ruled out electoral participation, albeit for different reasons
Former advisers to the interim government Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Mahfuj Alam, who had resigned from the advisory council ahead of the 13th national election, will not contest the polls despite nomination papers being collected for both of them.
Asif Mahmud had collected nomination papers to contest from Dhaka-10, while his supporters had also collected papers on his behalf from Cumilla-3.
Besides, nomination papers for Mahfuj Alam were also collected from Lakshmipur-1, including by his brother and NCP Joint Convener Mahbub Alam.
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Despite these developments and repeated social media announcements by Asif Mahmud that he would contest from Dhaka-10, both former advisers have now ruled out electoral participation, albeit for different reasons.
The developments come amid major political realignments ahead of the February election as the National Citizen Party (NCP) announced on 28 December that it had joined the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance in pursuit of broader political unity, with party Convener Nahid Islam stressing that the move does not reflect any ideological alignment.
And, today (29 December), Nahid announced that Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain formally joined the party as its spokesperson and will not contest the election.
"In line with the decision of the NCP's political council, Asif Mahmud will assume responsibility as the party's spokesperson from now on," Nahid Islam said while speaking at a press conference at the party's Banglamotor office in the capital.
Mahfuj Alam, meanwhile, has categorically stated that he will not contest the upcoming national election, despite nomination papers being collected in his name from the Lakshmipur-1 constituency.
Confirming his decision to BBC Bangla today, Mahfuj said he had made up his mind not to run long ago.
"I have been saying from the beginning that I will not run in the elections. That is why I did not want to step down from the government," he said.
He explained that his resignation came at the insistence of the government amid concerns that the presence of student representatives could raise questions about neutrality during the election period.
"The government felt that issues of impartiality might arise, so I stepped down. But my decision not to contest was already final," he added.
Following NCP's decision to align with the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition, Mahfuj Alam also announced that he would not be part of the party.
In a Facebook post on 28 December, the former information and broadcasting adviser wrote: "Under the prevailing circumstances, my respect, affection and friendship for my July comrades will not be erased. But I am not becoming part of this NCP."
The political fallout from the alliance decision has extended beyond the two former advisers.
Tasnim Jara, a senior leader of the NCP, resigned from her post as senior joint member secretary and announced that she will contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9, a day earlier the alliance was announced.
Tajnuva Jabeen also announced her resignation as joint convener of the party and said she will not be contesting the upcoming general election.
Earlier, both Asif Mahmud and Mahfuj Alam had submitted their resignation letters to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his official residence, Jamuna, around 5pm on 10 December.
Addressing a press briefing later that evening, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the resignations would take effect once the election schedule is announced.
After accepting the resignations, the chief adviser, however, wished the two former advisers - who were prominent figures of the July Uprising as student leaders - well in their future lives.
