In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming general election, two prominent members of the interim government’s Council of Advisers are set to resign next week. They are Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, the Adviser for Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, and Md. Mahfuz Alam, the Adviser for Information and Broadcasting. Both student leaders, who played pivotal roles in the recent mass uprising, intend to step down before the official announcement of the election schedule to participate as candidates. This move is expected to pave the way for new appointments within the advisory council.
Sources close to the matter suggest that following their resignation, the two leaders will actively engage in field politics. It is widely speculated that they may contest as independent candidates rather than joining established political platforms like the BNP. They have already verbally informed the Chief Adviser of their intentions. According to the projected electoral timeline, the 13th National Parliamentary Election is likely to be held on 8 February, with the schedule expected to be announced by 10 December. Asif Mahmud, who recently transferred his voter registration from Cumilla to the Dhaka-10 constituency, has expressed his desire to contest from the capital.
Meanwhile, a flurry of activity regarding the formation of new political alliances is currently underway. A meeting was held on Wednesday night at the residence of Nahid Islam involving leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP). Discussions focused on various electoral alternatives and potential coalitions. While a proposal was made to include ‘United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh)’—an organisation formed by former leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir—most NCP leaders opposed the idea, expressing a preference for remaining independent or forming alliances without Jamaat-e-Islami.
Addressing journalists regarding his resignation, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain stated, “We are preparing for the election and will contest after resigning. While it is not legally prohibited to contest while holding an advisory post, we believe it is not ethically sound.” He also hinted that more advisers might follow suit and join the electoral race. On the other hand, Mahfuz Alam noted that the Election Commission would take full charge once the council concludes its scheduled meetings this month. As the nation prepares for the polls, these shifts indicate a major realignment in the country’s political landscape.
GLIVE/TSN