Committee begins probe into alleged BCB election irregularities

The recently formed five-member independent probe committee, set up by the National Sports Council (NSC) to investigate allegations of widespread irregularities in the Bangladesh Cricket Board's 2025 election, started its procedure on Tuesday.

Several former and present board directors met the committee members in person and via online to answer their queries.

Retired Supreme Court judge AKM Asaduzzaman is heading the committee while other members are Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Md Selim Fakir, Joint Commissioner (DB Admin & South) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Nasirul Islam, sports journalist ATM Sayeed Uzzaman and Supreme Court advocate Barrister Saleh Akram Samrat.

“I was called to talk about whether the election process was fair or unfair. Actually, whether it was fair or unfair is not my decision to make, but I can state the facts and figures,” a board director called by the probe committee said following his questioning.

“I went and told them the facts and figures, what I saw with my own eyes or what happened before me and whether anything seemed unfair to me or not. So, I shared those things. I feel that when a probe committee is formed by the country, I shouldn't speak in favour of the board or any specific person. I have to state the facts and figures. After that, it’s their decision to decide what's right and what's wrong,” he said.

“Actually, when we were called by the investigation committee, we weren't told why we were being called or what their objective was. That wasn't told to us. They called us to know the facts and figures. So, we provided the facts and figures, and then they'll decide what's right and what's wrong,” he noted.

“Besides, look, just because I was a candidate doesn't mean I can say whether the process was right or wrong. I feel I didn't do anything wrong from my side. As a candidate, perhaps I didn't do anything ethically wrong, but whether there's any flaw in the process is for them to decide,” he added.

NSC asked the committee to submit its report to the State Minister for Youth and Sports within 15 working days.