‘We can bring change without a presidential candidate’

Keeping the presidential post open, the Integrated Panel comprising members from districts and some Dhaka Clubs yesterday announced that they would compete in 19 posts out of 21 in the October 3 Bangladesh Football Federation polls.

They made the announcement while disclosing a 24-point manifesto at a city hotel.

The Integrated Panel has not extended their support to any of the two independent presidential candidates -- Badal Roy and Shafiqul Islam Manik -- but said the presidential post will remain open. Incumbent president Kazi Salahuddin is leading the Combined Panel.

"We don't have any candidates beyond 19 [one for senior vice-president, three for vice-president and 15 for members] and the post of president will remain open for the delegates," vice-presidential candidate Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi, who had been with Salahuddin for the last four years, told the reporters after reading out the 24-point manifesto.

Asked how they would lift the country's football from its low state without a presidential candidate, Brothers Union director-in-charge Mohi said, "If we win a majority of the posts, we will have the key roles to take the decision through the executive committee and the president won't have much to say because the president is not a man with supreme authority."

The announcement to not support the independent president candidates by Integrated Panel may apparently give Salahuddin an edge over Manik and Badal, but there is still a chance to change the scenario ahead of tomorrow's elections.

Manik was seen campaigning during the Integrated Panel candidates' introduction programme. Badal, whose withdrawal after the deadline means he is technically still a candidate, hinted strongly on his Facebook page that he has been in the race of the president and expected a "silent revolution" from the delegates.   

Before introducing the candidates, Ashiqur Rahman Miku, secretary general of Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organisers' Council and chairman of Integrated Panel's election organising committee, said, "There may be questions about why we are roaming around so much ahead of the BFF polls? The answer is simple: We want to give Bangladesh Football Federation a national shape by electing the representatives from the districts because the national federation is not a Dhaka-based organisation.

"It is not just a panel of district representatives but it is a panel of the representatives from clubs and it is high time to work together. I urge the delegates to elect us because it is a question of survival, honour and establishing our rights. If you don't understand, I don't have anything to say. If we can't win, I will quit sports," said Miku, who has been involved with sports for more than four decades.

The manifesto promised to frame a realistic 12-year plan with the involvement of all stakeholders in the first point and introduction of some new tournaments such as U-13, U-15, U-17 across the country as well as a premier league on a home-and-away basis with the involvement of eight divisional teams.

The Integrated Panel also promised to revive some tournaments such as the national championship, youth championship, club championships, district leagues and women's football league regularly.

The manifesto also promised the introduction of a unique players' registration system, appoint BFF coaches in each district, increase international stadiums in eight divisions, investigate BFF's financial irregularities and reveal the financial statement each year by holding the annual general meeting.