BCB Forms Independent Committee to Investigate Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Female Cricketers

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has established a five-member independent committee to receive and investigate allegations of sexual harassment involving female cricketers. This initiative aims to ensure a safe, harassment-free environment for female players.

Barrister Rashna Imam, a Supreme Court lawyer, has been appointed to head the committee.

Previously, Rashna Imam served as a member of the ad-hoc committee led by Tamim Iqbal prior to the most recent BCB elections. During that period, she also held the position of head of the board’s Women’s Wing. She is the wife of Bobby Hajjaj, the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education.

Other members of the committee include Barrister Nazia Kabir, Barrister Anita Ghazi Rahman, and Zarin Mahmud Hossain. A former female cricketer will also be included in the committee, though her name has yet to be finalized.

Notably, no one directly affiliated with the BCB has been included in the committee. This is intended to prevent internal board influence and potential conflicts of interest during the receipt and investigation of complaints.

Regarding this development, Rafiqul Islam, head of the BCB’s Women’s Wing, stated that there had long been a demand for such a committee, which has now been implemented. Any female cricketer may approach the committee to lodge a complaint.

Allegations of sexual harassment in women’s cricket have surfaced in the past; for instance, former national team captain Jahanara Alam once accused a member of the team management of sexual harassment—an incident for which the BCB had previously formed an investigative committee.

It is expected that this new independent committee will strengthen the process for female cricketers to report grievances and ensure that such allegations are investigated impartially.