The upcoming Bangladesh Football Federation election has drawn a huge interest among the country’s football enthusiasts as 76 nomination papers have been sold so far for 21 posts with still a day remaining to complete the process.
Many unheralded organisers along with BFF bigwigs are buying the nomination papers for the poll that will see 122 voters exercising their rights on April 30.
The new rule stipulates that anyone does not have to be a councilor to become a candidate in the election is believed to be the reason behind so much of interest from the football organisers, experts said.
The BFF increased the fees of a nomination paper by 10 fold from Taka 500 last time to Taka 5,000 this time, but was unable to curb interest among the organisers.
It has been reported that at least three panels will contest in the election, only second time in the history of BFF. 
The frontrunner is the panel led by incumbent president Kazi Salahuddin who is likely to be challenged by former general secretary Harunur Rashid and Shadhin Bangla Football Team captain Zakaria Pintu.  
The number of candidates were also far less in the previous election in 2008 when 44 candidates contested for 21 posts which includes  one president, one senior vice-president, four vice-presidents and 15 members.
The competition however is going to be far intense this time as at least 15 candidates has already shown their interest to compete for the four positions of vice-presidents.
The lone chair for the senior vice-president will also see a hard contest as big names like former national star Ashrafuddin Chunnu, current BFF executive committee member Golam Robbani Helal, Sheikh Jamal DC president Manzoor Kader and Sheikh Russell KC president Nurul Alam Chowdhury have all thrown their hats to challenge the incumbent Salam Murshedi.