Asif Mahmud, the Youth and Sports Adviser, along with former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, emphasized the need for decisive action on Friday following allegations of harassment made by former national women’s captain Jahanara Alam.
Jahanara, currently residing in Australia, disclosed disturbing details of receiving inappropriate advances from former national pacer Manjurul Islam, who was the manager and selector during the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. She revealed that her career suffered repercussions after she declined the advances.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has established a committee to investigate the accusations following Jahanara’s revelations in an interview with Riasad Azim on YouTube, with a report expected within 15 working days.
Speaking to Channel24, Sports Adviser Asif mentioned that the ministry had reached out to the victim and assured that severe punishment would be meted out if legal action is pursued, emphasizing the gravity of the situation as a criminal offense.
“Should she decide to pursue legal recourse… the government will prioritize the issue and ensure that the perpetrators face severe consequences,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in a social media post, Tamim expressed his deep concern over the allegations, labeling them as serious and distressing. He called for an impartial investigation to be conducted independently, separate from the oversight of the BCB.
“Allegations of this nature cannot be ignored. No female athlete, whether in cricket or any sport, should be subjected to such misconduct. An unbiased committee must oversee the process to ensure fairness,” Tamim emphasized.
Prior to this, Jahanara had raised issues regarding the team environment, which were initially dismissed by the BCB. However, the recent allegations have led to official scrutiny and increased demands for accountability.
Jahanara has represented Bangladesh in 135 international matches since her debut in 2011.