BCB Election Goes to Polls Today

After a series of dramatic developments, voting for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election is scheduled for today, with at least eight candidates—including outgoing president Aminul Islam Bulbul and vice-president Nazmul Abedeen Fahim—expected to be elected unopposed.

Aminul and Fahim’s paths were cleared after Dhaka Division candidate Abdullah Al Fuad Redwan withdrew on Sunday, criticizing the process as “non-transparent” and influenced by the government.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Aminul, Mr. Fahim, and the Election Commission have made a garland without a thread,” Redwan said. “That garland will never go around my neck. Therefore, I’m withdrawing from these intransparent elections.”

The election took another turn on Sunday when the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division ordered the Election Commission to reinstate the councillorships of 15 clubs. This decision also restored the candidacy of Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, former BCB media committee chairman, in Category Two.

According to the schedule announced by Returning Officer Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Zobayed Hossain on Sunday evening, voting will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at a city hotel in Dhaka. A total of 23 directors across three categories will be elected for a four-year term, with councillors able to vote via postal or e-ballot until 2:00 pm. Those who had already voted in Category Two will need to recast their votes following Iftekhar’s inclusion.

Two additional directors will be nominated by the National Sports Council. The newly elected directors will then elect the next BCB president at 7:30 pm, shortly after official results are announced at 6:00 pm.

Unopposed candidates include Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury and Asif Akbar from Chattogram, Abdur Razzak and Julfiqar Ali Khan from Khulna, Rahat Shams from Sylhet, and Shakhawat Hossain from Barishal, all in Category One. In total, 34 candidates are contesting across the three categories.

Earlier, several candidates—mostly from Category Two, including former national captain Tamim Iqbal—withdrew, alleging government interference. Representatives of 48 clubs even threatened to boycott upcoming domestic leagues if the polls were not rescheduled.

Tamim and others accused Aminul and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of manipulating the election, though Aminul dismissed these claims.

Aminul assumed the BCB presidency in May after former chief Faruque Ahmed was removed through a no-confidence motion supported by eight of nine board directors, who cited struggles under his leadership. Faruque is back in the race as a Category Two candidate, while former national captain Khaled Mashud Pilot is contesting Category Three against Debabrata Paul, former CWAB secretary and BCB match referee.