Bangladesh Scouts struggles amid leadership vacuum

Bangladesh Scouts, the national scouting organisation of the country, is mired in allegations of irregularities amid the absence of an elected leadership, disrupting its progress and international engagements.
The youth and volunteer-based organisation has been operating without a legitimate council-backed committee for nearly two years and without the support of dedicated volunteers.
Against this backdrop, dissatisfaction has grown among members and Scouts amid allegations that the current interim leadership has shown little interest in convening the National Council mandated in the Constitution.
Scouts have alleged that punitive action is taken against anyone who raises concerns over alleged irregularities by the current leadership.
Murtuza Shams Jim, a Rover Scout and former member of the PRM National Taskforce of Bangladesh Scouts, is one of the alleged victims of such retaliation.
U Nue Ching, the then executive director of Bangladesh Scouts, filed a case against Jim and another Scout member, Hossain Shamsat of Daffodil International University, with a Dhaka court under the Cyber Security Act on 22 February 2026.
Jim identified Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, deputy chief national commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, as the principal architect behind what he described as the punitive litigation. 
He alleged that Snigdho used his organisational influence to pressure U Nue Ching into signing what he described as a baseless case against them for speaking out against alleged irregularities.
He further alleged that some subordinate members of the Scouts were made witnesses despite having no knowledge of the matter.
Jim also alleged that he was repeatedly harassed and threatened by law enforcement officials after the case was filed.
Snigdho could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. Although U Nue Ching was contacted, he declined to comment.
Md Abdullah Al Mamun, a deputy director of Bangladesh Scouts who has been named as a witness in the case, also declined to elaborate. 
“It is a court matter. I cannot say anything about it,” he said.
“I possess irrefutable evidence, including direct admissions from the plaintiff, that the lawsuit was filed solely under persistent pressure,” Jim said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, several Scout members alleged that Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho and several others exercised undue influence after taking charge of the organisation under an ad hoc committee following the political upheaval of 5 August 2024.
They alleged that the ad hoc committee repeatedly extended its own tenure throughout 2024 and 2025 without convening the National Council.
The prolonged stalemate prompted the President and Chief Scout to intervene by appointing a one-year Interim National Executive Committee to break the deadlock.
Although the interim committee’s tenure is due to expire on 30 September, it has yet to announce a date for the National Council, nor has a full-fledged executive committee been formed.
Md Shamsul Huq, executive director of Bangladesh Scouts, told the Daily Sun that the executive committee is responsible for deciding when to hold the council.
“Preparations are under way to hold the National Council,” he said.
When contacted, Professor Najma Shams, a former vice-president of the National Committee of Bangladesh Scouts, said it was true that the National Council had not been held for a long time. However, she declined to comment further.