A surprise announcement by former Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming 13th national election has stirred fresh speculation within the political arena.
Asif’s decision, revealed just hours after his departure from the advisory council to the interim government, has heightened tensions within the National Citizen Party (NCP) and left leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad visibly frustrated.
According to sources, Asif has been in discussions with both parties about joining them and contesting the 12 February election on their ticket.
On Friday, a day after the announcement of the election schedule, Asif – a key organiser of the July Uprising which toppled the Awamil League government in August last year – declared his intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming polls via a Facebook post.
NCP insiders say the party is split over Asif’s move. One faction views his decision as a temporary stance following his resignation from the government and expects him to eventually realign with NCP. Another faction, however, remains deeply sceptical about his intentions.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Asif Mahmud resigned as an adviser to the interim government, where he was responsible for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Following his resignation, speculation arose regarding which political party he would join.
Asif Mahmud and fellow former adviser Mahfuj Alam, who also resigned on the same day, had close ties with the young reformists leading the nascent NCP. They once wielded considerable influence within the party.
Both joined the interim government as advisers following the July Uprising, in which they played key roles as student coordinators of the platform Student Against Discrimination. Another adviser with a student background, Nahid Islam, resigned from the government in February this year and went on to form NCP.
Insiders say that in recent months, Asif and Mahfuj’s connection with NCP has diminished as their relationship with the party leadership has cooled.
Sources reveal that both Asif and Mahfuj opposed NCP’s exploration of a potential alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to insiders, the two former advisers are considering multiple options for the upcoming elections. While both have expressed interest in contesting under the BNP’s symbol or through a BNP-led alliance, no formal agreement has been reached.
Additionally, Asif has recently entered discussions with leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad regarding the possibility of joining their party.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, their electoral plans appear to be taking shape. Mahfuj Alam intends to contest from Lakshmipur-1, while Asif Mahmud plans to run from Dhaka-10, even though the BNP has already announced candidates for both constituencies.
Despite repeated attempts, Asif could not be reached for comment.
NCP continues dialogue
NCP leaders have confirmed that discussions with Asif are ongoing. “Asif has not yet confirmed that he will not join the NCP,” NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He added that talks are still in progress and expressed hope that Asif would eventually align with the party.
NCP Joint Member Secretary (Media Cell) Mushfiq Us Salehin adopted a more cautious stance. “The decision ultimately rests with Asif. We wish him well in his future endeavours, and any decisions regarding his participation in the upcoming elections are entirely his,” he said.
Frustration within Gono Odhikar
Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur expressed frustration over Asif’s move to run as an independent candidate.
“You should ask Asif about his decision. Asif knows why he declared his independent candidacy via a Facebook post. Let’s see if any outcome emerges from future discussions,” Nur told TIMES.
