Asif Mahmud to Contest Dhaka–10 Constituency as Independent Candidate

PNN News Desk, Dhaka

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, former adviser to the interim government, has announced that he will contest the upcoming 13th National Election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka–10 constituency. At 11:51 am on Friday, he made the announcement on his verified Facebook page, attaching a video message seeking support.

Dhaka–10 includes Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, New Market, and Hazaribagh areas. BNP has already nominated Sheikh Robiul Alam, a member of its executive committee. Jamaat’s candidate from this seat is central executive member and Supreme Court lawyer Jasim Uddin Sarkar. The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has not yet announced its candidate.

Asif Mahmud has recently been at the center of discussions. He and Mahfuz Alam both served as advisers to the interim government. They submitted their resignation letters to Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday, which became effective Thursday evening following the election schedule announcement.

Yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin announced the schedule for the national election and the July national referendum. Voting for all 300 constituencies and the referendum will be held on 12 February.

Asif, who was a student representative during the July uprising, served as adviser in charge of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He had earlier expressed his intention to vote in Dhaka. On 9 November, he applied to change his voter address to Dhanmondi. Since then, speculation had been ongoing about whether he would contest from Dhaka–10—his announcement today confirms it.

Meanwhile, former adviser Mahfuz Alam is also preparing to contest the election. His brother, NCP joint convener Mahbub Alam, said Mahfuz Alam may run from Lakshmipur–1. The party from which he will contest is yet to be finalized.