The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has placed four officials on special duty (OSD) following allegations of harassment made by former national women’s team captain Jahanara Alam.
The decision, taken on Thursday night, affects team manager S M Golam Faiyaz, physio Suraiya Akter, coach Mahmud Emon and official Sarfaraz Babu. BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed the move, saying the board was taking the matter very seriously.
The allegations have sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s cricket community and prompted the board to act swiftly. Former women’s team manager and selector Manjurul Islam, named as the primary accused, is currently in China. In a Facebook post on Friday night, he said he welcomed BCB’s decision to open an inquiry and was willing to face any investigation.
On Saturday, the BCB announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the claims. Retired Supreme Court Justice Tariq ul Hakim has been appointed convener of the panel, joined by newly appointed BCB director Rubaba Dowla and Supreme Court senior advocate Barrister Sarowat Siraj Shukla.
A source within the BCB’s Cricket Operations department told Daily Times of Bangladesh that the four officials connected with the women’s team were being made OSD as part of a collective board decision. “These individuals involved with the women’s team are being made OSD for now. It’s a collective decision of the board. An official announcement will be made soon,” the source said.
The inquiry marks a significant moment for Bangladesh cricket, as the board faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of misconduct allegations within the national setup.
