Farooq Abu Taher, an expatriate from Finland, was nominated in the European Parliament elections

The Dhaka Times Desk Farooq Abu Taher, a Bangladeshi-Finnish citizen, has been a candidate from Finland in the European Parliament 200 seat election. As a result, a sensation has been created around him among the European expatriate Bangladeshis.

This year's spring Euro elections are going to be held on May 22-25. Finland's left-wing political party 'Vasemmist' recently released its candidate list ahead of the election. After the confirmation of the nomination of Farooq Abu Taher, who works in a metal industry in the coastal province of Katka, 130 km from the capital Helsinki, the election campaign is now going on in full swing.

Farooq Abu Taher from Haripur village of Chagalnaya in Feni district of Bangladesh has been living permanently in Finland since 2008. Before that, he was in Cyprus for several years. Although he lived in Finland for a short time, he suddenly entered the mainstream politics this year. This is what Farooq Abu Taher said in a private conversation with this reporter on April 11. He is excited to be a candidate for the European Parliament elections. He said, "I want to ensure equal rights for everyone across Europe regardless of religion and caste." Despite having qualifications, many times we are not able to match ourselves in different countries, despite having leadership qualities, we are not able to occupy the leadership seat”.

About 3,000 Bangladeshis live in Finland, most of whom live in the capital, Helsinki. Although the Bangladeshi community here has not known Farooq Abu Taher for a long time, his name is being mentioned in the mainstream political arena of Finland after he was announced as a candidate by the left-wing political party 'Vasemmist' in the Euro elections. In the interview, he also told this reporter, "I have been close to 2 of the 12 influential MPs of our party in the 200-seat Finnish parliament and they officially proposed me to be a candidate for the Euro elections in February of this year at the Parliament House in Helsinki."

Bangladeshi-Finnish dual citizenship of Farooq Abu Taher. He has already brightened the image of the red-green flag by running as a candidate for the European Parliament elections. Farooq Abu Taher is a fierce opponent of Bangladesh-based politics in exile. Lamentingly, he said, "Though legally 100 percent illegal in any country in Europe, Bangladesh-based political activities have been created and divided between countries through its formal practice, which is a huge obstacle for integration." Farooq Abu Taher called upon them to shun Bangladesh-based politics in exile and utilize their talents by participating in the mainstream politics of those countries.

wrote
Mainul Islam Nasim
Freelance journalist
World Wide Community