Sports and politics remain entangled as BCB elections near

The growing influence of politics in sports, particularly cricket, has come under renewed scrutiny ahead of the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections scheduled for June 7. 

While cricket has rarely been free from political influence, repeated assurances of separation between sports and politics are being questioned following the publication of the draft voter list.

State minister for youth and sports Aminul Haque had wished to keep sports arena away from politics, but concerns exist over councillor nominations from districts and divisions for the upcoming elections. Unlike the preceding election during Aminul Islam Bulbul’s tenure, there was no strict requirement this time to nominate councillors from ad hoc committees.

National Sports Council (NSC) director of sports Aminul Ehsan confirmed that ad hoc committees were tasked with nominations. However, councillors were not required to come exclusively from within those committees, as Ehsan had previously clarified to The Daily Star ahead of councillor nominations.

In Khulna division, sources confirmed that several appointments contradict assurances of keeping sports free from politics. Bar pacer Rubel Hossain from Bagerhat, our correspondents verified that nominations had little relevance to cricket.

From Khulna Sports Association, nominated councillor Chowdhury Shafiqul Islam is the former joint convener of metropolitan BNP, while Mohammad Shafiqul Alam is Khulna city BNP’s member secretary. The Satkhira district BNP member secretary was also nominated. Similar political links were seen in Jhenaidah, Kushtia and Meherpur, while in Magura and Narail, close relatives of elected MPs were named. Only Chuadanga and Bagerhat had no notable political appointments in the division.

Not all regions showed the same pattern. In Chattogram, former national cricketers Shaheedur Rahman and Minhajul Abedin Nannu were among key appointments. While Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban also show political affiliations, they include strong sporting figures such as Mohammad Jashim Uddin, a former divisional football star and organiser, and Abu Sadat of Rangamati, a former district cricketer and first-class umpire.

“They are long-time organisers with sporting backgrounds, though there are political affiliations,” a Chattogram sports source said, adding that most appointments from the division were fair.

In Mymensingh, Mahbubul Alam, the joint convener of Mymensingh city BNP, has long been involved in sports, having served as treasurer and secretary of Mohammedan. Meanwhile, Khairul Kabir Khokon, the elected MP from Narshingdi, is now a BCB councillor.

Even in districts where political affiliations are not apparent, there are suggestions that nominations were based on recommendations. “If we are talking about cricket or sports associations, cricket is virtually non-existent and I had to go by recommendations from BCB and political personnel,” said a district commissioner (DC), requesting anonymity. 

One councillor argued that clearer constitutional guidelines could prioritise genuine cricket personnel. He said that before the BCB constitutional changes in 2012, nominations came through executive committee members or the general council of the district sports association, while authority lay with the secretary, who still had to call executive committee meetings to finalise nominations. “Now, DCs have the authority and they are hostage to local MPs,” he said.

“If we can make the criteria more specific, including length of service in cricket, things may improve. Otherwise, complaints will continue but nothing will change,” he added.

As another BCB election arrives, just like the previous election, it would be naïve to suggest politics has no effect in sports but at the same time, when election takes place with increasing political influence, often times the local organisers with merit do not come through, eventually hurting the ecosystem.