Advocate Ariful Hoque Tayef, Member Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Chattogram South District unit, has collected a nomination form to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election for the Chittagong-16 (Banshkhali) constituency.
He collected the nomination form from the party's President, VP Nurul Hoque Nur, at the Gono Odhikar Parishad's central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, on Tuesday (October 14).
Advocate Tayef also serves as the Joint General Secretary of the Lawyers' Rights Council (Ainjibi Odhikar Parishad) Central Committee. His extensive background includes serving as a Central Joint Convener of the 2018 Quota Reform Movement, former Senior Vice President of the Chattogram District Students' Rights Council, President of the Chattogram Metropolitan Youth Rights Council, Joint General Secretary of the Youth Rights Council Central Committee, and Coordinator/Member Secretary of the Lawyers' Rights Council’s Chattogram division.
Speaking about his candidacy, Advocate Tayef stated, "Gono Odhikar Parishad is a party of the masses. Every leader and activist of this party, including our chief VP Nur, was involved in the movement against the autocratic Hasina regime. This party has now reached the doorstep of people across the country. Gono Odhikar Parishad works for the welfare of the public and has no place for terrorists, toll collectors, or the corrupt. I am hopeful that the people of Chittagong-16 (Banshkhali) will choose Gono Odhikar Parishad based on the current activities of various political parties. I have sought nomination, and if the party gives me the chance, I am confident I can uphold the party's honour."
Recalling his political struggle, he added, "I risked my life during the July mass uprising. As a lawyer, I fought in court during the day, and after court, I fought on the streets. I have faced severe torture. I couldn't go to my locality; I had to stay in hiding. As a Joint Convener of the 2018 Quota Reform Movement, I led the entire Chattogram area, and I did the same during the '24 mass uprising. During the July movement, the Jubo League and Chhatra League surrounded my residence; if I hadn't fled then, I would not be alive today."
Advocate Tayef concluded, "Gono Odhikar Parishad is working to ensure public participation in building a non-discriminatory, corruption-free Bangladesh and ending the politics of vengeance. Since its inception, the party has regularly conducted organizational activities in Banshkhali. If I am nominated as the Gono Odhikar Parishad candidate for the Chittagong-16 Banshkhali constituency, I intend to participate in the election."
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