Mahfuj says will not contest election

Former information adviser Mahfuj Alam on Monday told reporters that he will not contest the upcoming general elections.

A nomination paper was collected on his behalf for the Lakshmipur-1 constituency on Sunday, but he did not submit it to the Election Commission on Monday, the final day for submission. Instead, his brother NCP leader Mahbub Alam would contest from the seat.

On Sunday, Mahfuj also clarified that he would not join the youth-led party over "newly surfaced ideological issues," despite being instrumental in its establishment.

On 10 December, Mahfuj and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain resigned as de facto ministers in the interim government, raising prospects of them contesting the election. On Monday, both turned down the prospects.

During their time in the government, Asif Mahmud had repeatedly claimed that he would “certainly” contest the elections, but Mahfuj did not make any such remark.

On Monday, the former information adviser told BBC Bangla that he has been saying since the beginning he would not contest the national elections.

Asked why he quit the government ahead of elections, Mahfuj said the interim government believed retaining the two young advisers, who played leading roles in last year’s uprising and whose compatriots later formed a political party, in the administration would raise questions over fair elections.

Therefore, Mahfuj decided to quit government for ensuring credibility to the elections.

On his brother contesting the election, Mahfuj said Mahbub is an NCP leader, and is free to take his own decisions. He declined to comment further on the issue.