Desk Report:
For the past few days, cricketers have been sharing the same post on social media regarding the BCB elections, saying, “Whatever is happening around the BCB elections is not desirable. This is a matter for the future of Bangladesh cricket and cricketers. We want the BCB elections to be free, fair and impartial.” This post was made by current and former cricketers of the national team.
The matter has come to the attention of Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. At an event in the capital today, he said, “Players or boards – everyone has to be professional. Nowhere in the world do running cricketers talk about the board elections. This is a violation of their central contract. It is very sad to make cricketers divide into factions. Those who are doing this should be ashamed.”
Asif believes that elections mean competition. There will be confrontations. The question is how impartial and participatory the elections are being. In Asif Mahmud’s words, “From what I have seen so far, the elections are going well. The objections have been resolved after the list was published. The councilors will vote, and the director and president will be elected through voting.’
Drawing on the past context, he further said, ‘Previously, the election meant that the Prime Minister had appointed one person as the president. But that did not happen this time. This time, there is a real competition. The two candidates are in a tight race. Whoever will contest will lead. Here, no one was stopped by a phone call from the intelligence agency. No one was told not to stand. This time, there is no such culture.’
The sports advisor said that in all elections, minor problems arise, but they are also resolved. ‘A couple of problems arose, we have resolved them by discussing with everyone. We have avoided usurpation. Those who have been brought in this time are sports-related. No one close to politics has been brought in. There are also people from BNP. If it had been controlled, they would not have been able to stay.’ He added, ‘I think all the objections have been resolved by the time the final list is published today. The final list of candidates will come soon. There is no chance of any major problems.’
