Former adviser Mahfuj Alam has confirmed that he will not participate in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Although nomination papers were collected on his behalf for the Lakshmipur-1 constituency, Mahfuj told different media outlets on Monday that he had decided from the beginning not to run.
“I always said I would not contest. I stepped aside because the government felt the presence of student representatives could raise questions about election neutrality. But my decision not to participate has been final,” he said.
His younger brother, Mahbub Alam, NCP joint convener, has already collected nomination papers for the same constituency. “He is an NCP leader and will contest based on his own decision. I have nothing to say about that,” Mahfuj added.
Mahfuj, who played a key role in the July mass uprising and served as an adviser to the interim government representing youth leaders, resigned from his advisory post on 10 December ahead of the election.
While he was involved in forming the National Citizen Party (NCP) last year, his influence within the party has since declined, according to party insiders.
He also confirmed that although he was offered a nomination under the NCP during the 10-party Jamaat-led alliance agreement, he will not join the party.
Explaining his decision, Mahfuj said, “Bangladesh is in a critical phase, and it is better to remain firm in one’s principles rather than take sides.”
Earlier, he had publicly criticised Jamaat-e-Islami on social media and reaffirmed that he will remain independent of party politics in the forthcoming election.
