Hafiz Uddin Ahmed at a press conference at Banani’s residence.
BNP Vice Chairman Hafiz Uddin Ahmed announced his ‘soon’ retirement from politics amid the ‘one-day’ movement of BNP before the polls.
Calling reporters at Banani’s residence in Dhaka on Wednesday morning, he said that the talk of forming a new party in the market is ‘not true’. He wants to retire from BNP.
“I am sick. I do not have the physical ability to do politics. I will retire soon. I will take the next step after taking feedback from my local (Bhola).”
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said that he wants to go to Singapore for treatment. That’s why apply for visa. Will leave politics from BNP.
This retired army officer faced the journalists amid various rumors about the ‘formation of a new party’ and the ‘possibility of participating in the elections’ of BNP government’s one-time water resources minister Hafiz.
Earlier on Tuesday, he told bdnews24.com, “BNP should go for elections with UN and international mediation. If the BNP goes to the polls, I will participate in that election.”
Government ministers are claiming that Hafiz is forming a new party – bdnews24.com wanted to know his statement on that.
In response, this BNP leader said on Tuesday, “I don’t want to say anything more about this. I see the political situation. I won’t say anything more now.”
The BNP-Jamaat alliance boycotted the January 5, 2014 election on the demand of a non-partisan government during the election. Awami League came to power for the second time in a row amid widespread violence in the streets.
After that, when the date of national election was announced in December 2018, BNP announced not to participate in that election. Later, along with the 20-party coalition, the new coalition Oikya Front took part in it. BNP accused that ‘voting was done the previous night’ after the landslide in that election.
This time BNP is protesting on the streets demanding the resignation of the government and elections under a non-partisan government before the polls. The party has brought back the hartal-blockade program in the country after a long time after their rally was canceled due to clashes on October 28.
Hundreds of leaders and activists including the party’s general secretary have already been arrested. They did not go to the dialogue of the Election Commission which was preparing the schedule.
In such a situation, various speculations started around BNP Vice Chairman Hafiz Uddin.
When asked about this, he told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that he is ‘not thinking’ about politics now.
“I am physically ill. I am not thinking about politics at the moment. I am looking at the political situation.”
79-year-old Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was ill two months ago and was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. Later he went to Singapore for treatment.
Hafiz Uddin was in the ‘Z’ Force led by Ziaur Rahman in the 1971 War of Independence. He was awarded the title of Vir Bikram for his bravery in battle.
After retiring from the military, Hafeez joined politics. He was elected Member of Parliament six times from Bhola-3 (Lalmohan-Tajumuddin).
When Khaleda Zia formed the government in 2001, Hafiz was made the Minister of Water Resources. He has been serving as the vice chairman of BNP for more than a century. He also had to go to jail for the anti-government movement.
In 2020, BNP issued a show-cause notice to Vice Chairman Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Shaukat Mahmud for participating in a program outside the party’s decision.
