Retired Supreme Court judge AKM Asaduzzaman, chair of the five-member independent investigation panel set up by Bangladesh’s National Sports Council (NSC), said on Sunday that the committee has recommended a constitutional change aimed at ensuring genuinely free and fair Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections. The probe was launched after accusations of widespread irregularities surfaced around the BCB’s 2025 electoral process.
Probe recommendations after completing the review
- Asaduzzaman said the committee’s mandate was to investigate the claims, and that it has now completed its work and formally submitted its report to the Ministry.
- He told reporters at the NSC premises that the panel attempted to remain fully neutral during the process, questioning individuals connected to any suspected involvement.
- According to Asaduzzaman, the committee compiled a concise and fair report based on what it found, without making unsupported allegations, and documented election-related observations as they emerged during the inquiry.
- He said the report will be examined by the authorities and the relevant information will be disclosed accordingly, adding that it would not be appropriate for the chair to comment on the contents immediately after submission.
- Asaduzzaman stressed that the committee is not a judicial court and did not function to press charges or conduct a criminal trial procedure. He said the panel’s job was to assess whether proper legal processes were followed and to report on what occurred and what did not.
- He added that the committee included guidelines intended to help future elections avoid irregularities, while also proposing steps to improve the board’s overall functioning.
- Asaduzzaman also confirmed that a constitutional amendment is part of the recommendations.
He further said former sports adviser Shojib Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan—who is widely claimed to be the key figure behind the BCB election arrangement—did not appear before the committee, despite requests. Asaduzzaman said the panel contacted him to hear his account and invite input, but that he did not show up during the allocated time.
Committee formation and membership
The investigation committee was formed on March 11, with Asaduzzaman heading the five-member panel. Other members listed are Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Md Selim Fakir, Joint Commissioner (DB Admin & South) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Nasirul Islam, sports journalist ATM Sayeed Uzzaman, and Supreme Court advocate Barrister Saleh Akram Samrat.
What happens next for the BCB
With the Aminul Islam-led BCB board expected to be dissolved soon, an interim arrangement is anticipated to take shape. The expectation is that an 11-member ad-hoc body will be introduced, with another former captain set to oversee the interim board.
