Bangladesh Cricket Board – The 2025 elections of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have come under intense scrutiny after a government-appointed inquiry committee flagged major irregularities. The five-member panel, led by former judge A.K.M. Asaduzzaman, submitted its findings to the Ministry of Sports, stating that the entire process lacked credibility.
According to the report, voters were allegedly intimidated, rules were violated, and the overall conduct of the election failed to meet basic standards of fairness.
‘Not Free, Fair or Transparent’
Presenting the findings, Sports Director Mohammad Aminul Ahsan clearly stated that the elections were neither independent nor transparent. He pointed out that large-scale procedural lapses were observed and that voters faced undue pressure during the process.
He also added that the government now has sufficient grounds to dissolve the board based on the committee’s findings.
Allegations Against Former BCB President
Serious allegations have been made against former BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul. The investigation revealed that he misused his authority by appointing 10 councillors arbitrarily.
The report emphasized that the BCB president did not have the constitutional right to nominate former cricketers as councillors in such a unilateral manner. This act was described as a clear violation of the board’s constitution and an abuse of power.
Additionally, allegations surfaced that Bulbul, along with Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, attempted to influence the election outcome.
E-Voting Process Questioned
The committee also raised concerns over the e-voting system used during the elections. It found that voting was conducted from a single location, compromising voter secrecy.
The report highlighted that such a setup goes against democratic principles and increases the risk of manipulation. The committee went as far as calling it a case of pre-planned vote rigging.
Government Takes Action, Tamim Iqbal Appointed
Following the findings, the government acted swiftly by dissolving the BCB board. An 11-member ad-hoc committee has now been formed to take charge.
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has been appointed as the chairman of this new committee. Notably, Tamim had earlier raised concerns about misuse of power even before the elections took place.