BCB election begins amid allegations of political influence

Voting in Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) directors' election is set to take place on Sunday amid allegations of political influence and favoritism in the nomination process, with a significant number of candidates reportedly linked to ruling party figures and influential political families.

Polling will be held from 10:00AM to 4:00PM at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium of Mirpur, while the results are expected to be announced at 6:00PM.

Most of the board positions have already been decided uncontested. In Category-1, representing district and divisional sports associations, seven of the 10 directors were elected unopposed. They are Said Bin Zaman and SM Abdullah Al Fuad from Dhaka Division, Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury from Sylhet, Minhazul Abedin Nannu and Moin Uddin Chowdhury from Chattogram, Mir Shakhrul Alam from Rajshahi and Mirza Faisal Amin from Rangpur.

For the remaining positions in Category-1, Shafiqul Alam, Shantanu Islam and Abdus Salam will contest for two seats from Khulna Division, while Mizanur Rahman and Muntasir Alam Chowdhury will vie for one seat from Barishal Division.

Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir has already been elected unopposed from Category-3.

The most competitive contest is expected in Category-2, which represents Dhaka-based clubs. A total of 16 candidates are competing for 12 director positions. Although the election was initially viewed as relatively open, allegations have emerged over last-minute manoeuvring and the use of electronic voting.

A total of 39 e-votes will be cast in this category. Some stakeholders have questioned why a number of councillors based in Dhaka are opting to vote electronically despite being physically present in the capital.

Among the frontrunners in Category-2 are Fahim Sinha, Masuduzzaman, Asif Rabbani, Yasir Mohammad Faisal, Tamim Iqbal, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Israfil Khosru, Rafiqul Islam Babu, Shanian Tanim and Saim Ibrahim Ahmed.

The remaining two positions are expected to be contested by Amzad Hossain, Sakif Ahmed Salam and Dr Sarkar Mahbub Ahmed Shamim.

TZ