The Bangladesh Cricket Board has made a big decision to halt all the operations of the Constitutional Reform Committee in their 17th meeting of the board of directors. The meeting took place at the country’s iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur, Dhaka.
The Constitutional Reform Committee came under scrutiny after they proposed some wholesale changes in the board’s constitution. The committee was headed by BCB director Nazmul Abedin.
A few days ago, Dhaka club organizers also threatened a boycott for the new constitutional reforms. Four days later, they even boycotted the domestic cricket of First Division which left the livelihood of several local cricketers in danger.
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The Constitutional Reform Committee’s operations were halted by BCB
A five-member Constitutional Reform Committee was formed by the BCB which was headed by Nazmul Abedin. The personal secretary to the National Sports Council Chairman, Saiful Islam, became the member secretary of this committee.
The three other members of the committee are Kamruzzaman, the legal advisor to the board, Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Shyikh Mahdi, and AKM Azad Hossain. However, this committee’s work has been suspended by the board as of now.
There were some bold suggestions given by this committee which included the dissolution of CCDM, and a significant reduction in the number of Category-2 councillors in the General Council.
In another reform, the committee asked for a decrease in the number of directors representing the clubs based in Dhaka from 12 to 4. This reform was highly objected to by the Dhaka club organizers as they raised voices for a boycott.
The total number of directors would have been reduced from 25 to 21 according to the proposed changes. As a result, the clubs made a decision to boycott the league. It prompted the BCB to make quick decisions. The future of around 1500-2000 cricketers would have been put in danger had the league been postponed.
BCB director speaks on suspension
BCB director Mhabub Anam stated that the process of the constitutional reform committee needs transparency. He also mentioned that some changes in the committee are necessary and more stakeholders need to be involved.
“They [reform committee] did not present anything to the board or the NSC. The board of directors felt that the process [of the committee] should be a bit more transparent because the constitution is something where there can’t be any secrecy.”
“It’s public information that will be public. We felt their activities need to be suspended, and the discussion that is happening, should be stopped,” the board director Mahbub Anam said following the meeting,’ Mahbub said.
“In the same way, the changes in the committees and their expansion are necessary because it’s important for the stakeholders to be involved, the board felt. In light of those, these decisions have been taken.”
“We will announce the committee’s scope of work before any changes and expansion decisions are executed. We have decided to suspend the activities of the constitution reform committee,” he added.
The BCB announced about the standing committee and gave a hint about the possibility of an interim election. A no. of posts on the board are vacant which is being led by the board president Faruque Ahmed.
Ahmed took over the role after former BCB president Nazmul Hassan left the country following the ruling Awami League government was dethroned. Since then, Nazmul Hassan has not returned to the country.