Current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan has signalled his readiness to quit after recent, local political developments. Bangladesh’s Awami League government capitulated after student-led protest forced several resignations. Long-time Bangladesh political figure Sheikh Hasina fled to exile along with other top government officials in recent weeks.
Attention is turning to the BCB after a string of poor on-field results in recent years. Fans believe extreme politicking doesn’t help the national team and favour new faces taking up roles in Bangladesh’s cricket governing body.
Current BCB President Hassan is under immense pressure to resign amid current political realities in the country.
Official Sources Confirm BCB President Willing to Resign
Several sources within the BCB and Bangladesh’s sports authorities can confirm that Hassan is willing to resign:
“One of our directors is in touch with him and, according to him, Papon bhai is ready to cooperate (with the government) and is also prepared to quit from the president’s post to bring reform in the board,” one source said.
“If the president resigns, he can request to convene a board meeting for acceptance of his resignation and (for next) elections. He can do that,” another source added.
“If any board director or the president resigns, they have to resign to the board, because normally if anyone from the bank resigns it comes to the board, and the board accepts it or rejects it, According to our constitution, it is the same and if anyone resigns he has to resign to the board and the board has to convene and accept or reject that resignation letter,” an inside source confirmed.
Will There Be an Election if the BCB President Resigns?
A BCB source confirmed that elections will be necessary if the current board president resigns:
“If we accept a resignation, there is a vacancy and the vacancy needs to be filled by an election. The president and the vice-president election will take place among the 25 (board directors). The board that will accept the resignation can elect the next president and vice-president and that is the process.”
BCB Chairman Yunus Resigns
While there’s no solid news on Nazmul Hassan resignation yet, the BCB Chairman, Jalal Yunus, has chosen to resign. Yunus resigned on August 19, 2024. Several sources claim political tensions in Bangladesh triggered Yunus’ surprise resignation as BCB chair.
Student-led protests seem to be taking a toll on Bangladesh’s political and sporting leadership with many high-profile resignations in recent days.
Will the 2024 Bangladesh Series vs Pakistan Still Hold?
The 2024 BAN vs PAK series is on schedule to begin on August 21, 2024 and run until September 3, 2024. There are no changes to the current lineup of events, and fans should expect all games to hold. Every game in the encounter will hold in Pakistan and Bangladesh’s team are already in Lahore ahead of the Test series.
Bangladesh Sports Ministry on BCB President Resignation, Plans to Build a Sports Institute
The Bangladesh Youth and Sports Ministry confirmed they have not received any official resignation from the BCB President. The comments came at a recent press conference where several issues were discussed. Asif Mahmud Bhuiyan is the current Youth and Sports Ministry adviser, and he had this to say concerning the current saga:
“I have heard about the resignation of the BCB president from different media outlets. But so far I have not received any official statement or confirmation in this regard, … we are discussing this matter with various stake holders. I have asked former cricketers to reach a solution in this regard. “I don’t want to comment before reaching a solution. I hope you will get good news as soon as possible,” he added.
Bangladesh to set up a sports institute
In other reports, the Bangladesh Youth and Sports Ministry announced plans to build a sports institute in the country. This announcement was made on August 18, 2024 by the ministry’s adviser, Asif Mahmud Bhuiyan.
“Discussions are going on to set up a Sports Institute which will provide specialized sports services and infrastructural facilities through effective collaboration with national and international renowned sports institutions,” Bhuiyan said.
“Our goal is to produce skilled athletes of international standards and achieving higher results at the international level. Many developed countries including the United Kingdom (UK), The United States of America (USA), China, France have achieved incredible success in the field of sports by combining sports and science in impeccable way. Bangladesh also wants to reach that goal through Bangladesh Sports Institute,” the ministry adviser concluded.
The announcement comes amid a major shakeup in the Bangladesh sports hierarchy.
