Tamim Iqbal concerned over tremendous political interference in BCB elections

An alliance of Bangladesh’s district and divisional sports organizers, along with cricketers and club representatives, held a press conference on Sunday, September 21, alleging government interference in the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections. Meanwhile, former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal was among those raising concerns, claiming that the board’s constitution had been overlooked in a recent move by the board president Aminul Islam Bulbul.

Bulbul had sent a letter to the Ministry of Youth and Sports on September 18, noting that several district and divisional sports associations had not complied with a directive requiring councillors to be nominated from within the ad-hoc committees formed by the National Sports Council (NSC). Notably, the letter added that nomination forms had been resent to the respective associations. Tamim, who is tipped to contest the BCB elections, emphasized that he was seeking nothing but transparency in the process.

"A few days ago, I met with the Sports Advisor. At that time, I told him one thing: 'Brother, I don't want anything from you. I want only one thing, and that is a fair election.' I didn't demand or ask for anything more from him," Tamim said to reporters as quoted by The Daily Star.

"From what I started seeing after that, or what we are seeing. what is happening in the districts and divisions, even what is happening in the clubs, this is not right. It seems to me that a tremendous amount of interference is happening from various parts of the government,” he added.

Tamim also pointed out that the current process deviates from long-standing BCB practices. Meanwhile, the organizers warned that they would take legal action and stage protests if the councillor list already submitted to the BCB is altered.

"What we normally know from the BCB constitution is that those who are eligible, those related to sports, the DC can give them councilorship. This has been the case for a number of years, a number of elections. But this time, I suddenly noticed something new: an ad-hoc committee was formed. The rule that it must come from the ad-hoc committee is not mentioned anywhere in our constitution," the former cricketer concluded.