A prominent figure in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former captain of the Bangladesh football team, Aminul Haque, has raised concerns regarding alleged government interference and undue pressure from the sports adviser in the recent Bangladesh Cricket Board elections held on Monday.
During a sports event in Paltan on Tuesday, Aminul, who has transitioned into politics from his sports career as a goalkeeper, criticized the role of sports adviser Asif Mahmud, describing it as “unacceptable.”
Expressing his apprehension, Aminul stated, “My main worry revolves around the government’s involvement and the direct influence of the sports adviser in the election process.”
He further elaborated, “Concrete evidence exists for every instance of his meddling. I was taken aback to learn that the sports adviser personally intimidated several council members, pressuring them to vote a certain way. Numerous councilors have reached out to inform me that they were summoned and coerced in this manner.” Aminul, who serves as the convenor of Dhaka North BNP, emphasized, “The Bangladesh Cricket Board is a national institution belonging to the people, not the possession of an individual. The sports adviser has essentially transformed the BCB into his personal domain. He has even declared his intent to ensure the presidency for [Aminul Islam] Bulbul Bhai by any means necessary. This autocratic behavior and direct government interference are unlikely to be supported by any cricket enthusiast in Bangladesh.”
Following the voting by councilors, Bulbul was re-elected as the president of the country’s most financially lucrative sports body for a four-year term after 25 directors were elected earlier in the day.
Prior to this, Ishrak Hossain, another BNP leader and sports organizer, had raised doubts about the legitimacy of the election proceedings that transpired on Monday.