The Bangladesh government, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), and former national men’s captain Tamim Iqbal have all expressed deep concern over the sexual harassment and mental abuse allegations raised by former women’s team skipper Jahanara Alam, urging a swift, fair, and transparent investigation.
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Adviser for Youth and Sports, said on Friday that the government would treat the allegations with the utmost seriousness and ensure justice if they are proven true.
“Ensuring the safety of women in sports and all other sectors is our top priority,” Asif told reporters. “I have watched Jahanara’s interview and spoken with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Their inquiry committee will submit its report soon. We also plan to speak directly with Jahanara, and if she wishes to take legal action, the government will pursue it with full gravity.”
Calling the allegations a criminal offence, Asif said those found guilty would face “exemplary punishment.”
“We will not tolerate any form of harassment or abuse in sports. Those responsible will face consequences,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) issued a strong statement demanding an immediate and thorough probe into the claims against several officials, including former selector and team manager Manjurul Islam Manju.
In a statement signed by CWAB president Mohammad Mithun, the players’ body expressed full solidarity with Jahanara, saying her emotional account had deeply disturbed the cricket fraternity.
“Each of Jahanara Alam’s allegations is grave and must not be dismissed,” the statement said. “The BCB must conduct a swift and transparent investigation involving all the individuals mentioned, the team manager, selector, former in-charge, and coach. Any delay or attempt to suppress the matter would be unacceptable.”
CWAB also urged the board to conduct a confidential probe into whether similar incidents are taking place in domestic or grassroots-level women’s cricket. “Our support for Jahanara extends beyond sympathy,” it added. “We stand firmly beside her and will provide every possible form of help in her pursuit of justice.”
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal also called for an independent inquiry conducted outside the BCB’s jurisdiction to ensure neutrality and transparency.
“These allegations are extremely serious and, if proven true, completely unacceptable,” Tamim wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. “Such conduct cannot be tolerated — not against a national player, an athlete from another sport, or any woman.”
While acknowledging that the BCB has already formed a committee, Tamim insisted that a separate investigation under the National Sports Council or government supervision was necessary. “No BCB representative should be on the panel to avoid even the perception of bias,” he said.
Tamim also encouraged other women athletes to come forward if they have faced similar experiences. “I am hearing about more such incidents from various sources. I urge every woman cricketer who has faced harassment at any level to speak up fearlessly. You will find me and many others standing beside you,” he wrote.
Jahanara, one of Bangladesh’s most experienced women cricketers, recently accused former selector and team manager Manjurul Islam Manju of sexual harassment and alleged mental abuse by other officials in a televised interview. The BCB has since formed a committee to investigate the claims, which have sparked widespread debate and renewed calls for accountability in Bangladesh cricket.
