Governments come and go—elected governments, interim administrations, and then elected government again. Yet Bangladesh cricket remains caught in the vicious cycle of politics.
The latest example came yesterday, Tuesday, when the National Sports Council (NSC) dissolved the elected board of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and formed an 11-member ad hoc committee, placing family members of BNP ministers and MPs in key positions.
The committee is headed by former national team captain Tamim Iqbal, who had previously submitted nomination papers for the BCB board elections on 6 October 20205 but withdrew amid allegations of irregularities.
Other members include lawyer Rashna Imam, wife of Bobby Hajjaj, MP; Mirza Yasir Abbas, son of Prime Minister’s adviser Mirza Abbas; Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed, son of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; and Israfil Khosru, son of Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The remaining members of the ad hoc committee include former national captain and ex-chief selector Minhajul Abedin, former cricketer and commentator Athar Ali Khan, and former board members Tanzil Chowdhury, Salman Ispahani, Rafiqul Islam, and Fahim Sinha.
Among them, Tanzil Chowdhury is chairman of Prime Bank, Salman Ispahani chairs Ispahani Limited, Rafiqul Islam is an official of the second-division club Indira Road Krira Chakra, and Fahim Sinha is a director at ACME Laboratories.
Fahim Sinha had also served on the BCB board during the last Awami League administration and under Faruque Ahmed’s interim board.
The ad hoc committee has been tasked with organising BCB elections within three months. However, outgoing president Aminul Islam has rejected the NSC’s decision in a press release, claiming he remains the board’s legitimate president.
In the 6 October elections, former national captain Aminul Islam was elected BCB president amid allegations of interference by then interim government’s Sports Affairs Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain in the nomination of district and divisional sports council councillors.
Tamim had campaigned actively to become a board director and had openly aimed for the presidency, but strategic election manoeuvres prevented him from succeeding, prompting him to withdraw along with 15 others.
Among those who withdrew and are now part of the ad hoc committee are Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed, Israfil Khosru, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Rafiqul Islam, and Fahim Sinha—all reportedly backed informally by the BNP.
Since the elections, Tamim’s camp has raised allegations of irregularities and deliberately withheld cooperation with Aminul’s board in domestic leagues, culminating in the formation of the NSC investigation committee.
The investigation committee reportedly found irregularities in all three categories of BCB elections. Evidence of “unjustified” interference by former sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain was also mentioned. The committee claimed Aminul Islam, the former BCB president, along with his APS Saiful Islam, coordinated the e-voting process and engaged in manipulation.
