The political circus of BCB elections

The drama that is unfolding with each passing day surrounding the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board election is another indication that cricket is not beyond politics.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board had recently announced a three-member Election Commission to conduct its Board of Directors Election 2025, scheduled on the first week of October. The commission will be responsible for carrying out and finalizing the election process in line with the board's constitution and regulations.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Mohammod Hossain has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner. He will be assisted by Md Sibgat Ullah, BPM, PPM, Additional Inspector General of Police and head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), as an Election Commissioner. The third member of the panel will be the Executive Director (Joint Secretary) of the National Sports Council, who will also serve as an Election Commissioner.

More than anything, the much anticipated BCB election is expected to be a political battle between the government-backed Aminul Islam Bulbul, who is currently the president of the board, versus Tamim Iqbal, who is backed by BNP, a strong opposition party, for the election.

"From our party we have asked Tamim to be the presidential candidate. There was pressure on me to be the candidate (for the BCB president's post) but I declined the offer," BNP's senior leader and former BCB president Ali Asghar had told reporters on September 3.

"I have spoken with Tamim and he is a good man and a very good player. If he becomes the cricket board president and if we can guide him in that case Tamim can run the show," he said.

The statement made by Ali Asghar suggests that BNP will be actively involved in the election campaign for Tamim, and they are in no mood to keep cricket away from politics.

Tamim, who had reversed his retirement decision within 48 hours upon the request of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who led Awami League, is said to be supported by Tarique Rahman- the man who is the acting chairman of BNP and expected to guide the political party in the forthcoming general election, scheduled in February 2026.

Tarique, who is living in exile in London since 2008 when their major opposition party Awami League came to power, is said to have had meetings with Tamim in the recent past.

The move made by Tamim was not surprising. In Bangladesh, political parties running the government have always had a say in the BCB and given the present condition prevailing in the country, it is expected that BNP will be favourites to form the next government, subject to free and fair general election.

However, Tamim will face a tough battle against Bulbul in the presidential election provided both of them manage to be the board director in the next election. Bulbul changed his mind and decided to contest the election instead of just organising it, which was his stated priority when he took over the role from Faruque Ahmed.

The upcoming BCB presidential election will be different from the ones contested in the past. In the last decade when Nazmul Hassan, who had close relations with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, went on to become BCB president on three successive occasions without being opposed, courtesy political backing.

This time, it will be a battle between the muscle-power of the clubs, who are forming a panel comprising businessmen largely backed by BNP to bolster the strength of Tamim in the election against Aminul, who is backed by the administration run by the present Yunus-led government.

The interim government formed ad-hoc committees in different divisions and districts after taking over, which are directly influenced by the government. If these district and divisional councilors eventually make it to the board room as directors and join hands with the clubs, chances of Bulbul retaining his post is at risk.

25 directors (12 from clubs, 10 from Division and District along with two nominated by NSC and one from category three that is representatives of other organizations) will elect the president.

It is understood that representatives of sports ministry, who are desperate to bring Aminul back to power, wanted couple of seats from the club quota, though it went in vain. Government interference had always been there in Bangladesh cricket whether it is backing Nazmul to run the show for the last decade without any opposition to welcoming former national skipper Mashrafee bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan in joining politics by giving them mandate to run for the national election.

Since the fall of the last government, the politics of BCB has taken interesting turns. Initially, it seemed that the interim government was inclined in holding a free and fair election of the board, and they publicly stated that on many occasions. However, those promises are changing.

A day after Asghar's announcement, Aminul Islam claimed that he was threatened and asked not to run for the president's post. BCB had already given a letter to the home ministry and sought for gunmen for protection of Bulbul.

"There is some kind of security concern and I am feeling afraid," Bulbul told a TV channel. Immediately thereafter Aminul claimed that he was threatened to step aside from election race. Tamim publicly stated that Bulbul should clarify his claim while asking him to step down from his post to have a level playing field in the election.

Cricbuzz understands Asif Mahmud had a meeting with Faruque Ahmed, who was thrown out from his BCB president post on his recommendation, to help them in achieving their goal - to bring Bulbul back to power.

On September 7, Asif called to exchange views with sports editors of leading publications and TV channels, and to everyone's surprise Aminul attended the meeting as well. Asif claimed that government interference is required to hold the election while adding that he is aware of the threat calls received by Bulbul. "We will intervene only to the extent that falls within our authority. We will do what's necessary to ensure the elections are legally and properly conducted. Beyond that, the government will not interfere in BCB elections," said Asif.

"Deputy Commissioners are being called and pressured to make certain people councilors. D.C.s are calling me to say they are being threatened. Bulbul bhai was even called and told, "Step aside. We'll make you the CEO." Government intervention is needed to counteract these things. Apart from that, there is no other interference," he said.

It is understood that the government is expected to back a newly formed political party - NCP - in the general election to challenge BNP. The upcoming BCB election will turn out to be a dress rehearsal for them to showcase their power and intention.