Aminul leads ex-footballers in demanding Salahuddin’s resignation and election delay
The protest was led by Aminul Haque, a former national team captain and BNP leader.
On saturday, during a demonstration outside the BFF House, a group of former footballers and leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) demanded the resignation of Kazi Salahuddin, the president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), and called for the postponement of the upcoming BFF elections.
The demonstrators voiced their concerns about alleged corruption within Bangladesh football, with Aminul Haque stating, "There has been corruption in football, one of the country's most beloved sports. Salahuddin has no moral right to continue as president. If he has any conscience, he should step down. We do not want elections to be held under his leadership. This is absolutely clear." He also urged a collective effort to rid football of corruption, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity in the sport.
The protesters, after initially gathering outside, entered the BFF House to present their demands to the BFF general secretary.
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They argued that, given the ongoing flood crisis and the overall situation, the elections should be postponed, suggesting that FIFA be contacted to facilitate the delay.
Salahuddin, who has led the country's football administration for 16 years, has expressed his intention to seek a fifth term as BFF president.
However, the protesters were resolute in their stance, insisting on his immediate departure from the position.
Aminul Haque proposed that a temporary postponement of the elections would allow players and organisers to thoroughly analyse the situation and consult with the sports advisor on how to best improve the state of football in Bangladesh.
The protest also saw participation from other prominent former footballers and BNP leaders, including Syed Rumman bin Wali Sabbir, Sayeed Hasan Kanan, Kaiser Hamid, Shafiqul Islam Manik, Khairul Kabir Khokon, and Abdus Salam. Shafiqul Islam Manik, a former national team coach, along with Qaiser Hamid and several others, also joined the human chain formed during the demonstration.
