Will Bangladesh Cricket Protect Its Women or Its Powerbrokers?

News Desk 

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s cricket fraternity has been jolted by explosive allegations of sexual harassment made by national women’s team pacer Jahanara Alam, prompting swift action from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and an assurance of full government support for the embattled player.

The revelations, made in a recent YouTube interview, have not only opened up long-suppressed conversations about the treatment of women in Bangladesh’s sporting ecosystem but also triggered public outrage and demands for an independent investigation into the culture of silence surrounding gender-based abuse in sports.

‘We will ensure justice’

Reacting to the claims, Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said the government was determined to ensure justice and protection for women athletes.

“Ensuring the safety of women in sports and other areas is our top priority,” Asif told reporters. “If the accused are found guilty, we will ensure exemplary punishment. We are promise-bound to protect our athletes.”

He confirmed that the government would coordinate with the BCB to facilitate the investigation and would also support legal proceedings if Jahanara chose to pursue them.

“We will speak with the victim, and if she wishes to pursue legal action — since this is a criminal offence — we will look into it with the utmost seriousness,” he added.

BCB initiates 15-day probe

In response to the allegations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board swiftly constituted a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter, with findings expected within 15 working days.

“The BCB has noted with concern the allegations reported in the media made by a former member of the Bangladesh National Women’s Cricket Team,” the board said in a statement.

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“As the matter is of a sensitive nature, the BCB has decided to form a committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly.”

Some of the individuals accused in the complaint currently hold roles within the BCB, while the main accused, former national pacer turned manager and selector Manjurul Alam, is reportedly residing in China.

The allegations date back to the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, where Jahanara claims she faced sexual harassment from officials associated with the national team.

Tamim Iqbal calls for independent inquiry

The scandal has drawn attention from across Bangladesh’s cricketing community, with former men’s team captain Tamim Iqbal urging the formation of a fully independent investigation committee.

“The allegations raised by Jahanara Alam are extremely serious, and if proven true, they are absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances,” Tamim wrote in a Facebook post.

“No athlete, at any level of sport — and no woman, anywhere — should ever have to face such treatment.”

Tamim emphasized that a separate, impartial committee under the National Sports Council or government supervision should oversee the investigation, without any BCB involvement.

“That is the only way to ensure complete impartiality,” he said. “The investigation should be completed swiftly, and whoever is found guilty, regardless of position, must face exemplary punishment.”

He also criticized the BCB’s earlier dismissal of Jahanara’s concerns about the national team’s environment, calling the quick denial “unacceptable” and urging the board to take all allegations seriously.

“If proper action is not taken in response to Jahanara’s allegations and if justice is not ensured, then in the future, young women will be afraid to pursue cricket or any sport as a career. We cannot allow that to happen,” Tamim warned.

‘No delay, no cover-up’

The Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) also echoed calls for swift and transparent action.

“Each of Jahanara Alam’s allegations is extremely serious and cannot be ignored,” the CWAB said in a statement.

“The BCB should conduct a prompt and transparent investigation involving all those named, including the team manager, selector, former in-charge, and coach. Any delay or attempt to conceal the matter would be unacceptable.”

Breaking the silence

Jahanara’s courage to go public has broken years of silence surrounding the treatment of women athletes in Bangladesh’s sports institutions — a subject long whispered about but seldom addressed publicly.

While the investigation is expected to take shape in the coming days, many see this moment as a turning point for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, potentially paving the way for reforms in accountability, player safety, and gender equality in sports governance.

For now, the cricketing community — both at home and abroad — watches closely as Bangladesh grapples with one of the most serious crises to ever confront its sporting establishment.