Aminul Haque alleges of direct government intervention in BCB elections

Aminul Haque, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and former captain of Bangladesh football team, alleged of government interference and undue pressure from sports adviser in the Bangladesh Cricket Board elections, which took place on Monday.

Speaking at a sporting event in Paltan on Tuesday, the goalkeeper-turned-politician claimed sports adviser Asif Mahmud's role to be "unacceptable".

"My primary concern is the government intervention and the direct interference of the sports adviser," Aminul said in his speech.

"There is proof for every instance of his interference. I was shocked to hear that the sports adviser personally threatened various councillors, demanding they vote in the election. Many councillors have called me to say that they were summoned and threatened in this manner," claimed Aminul, who is the convenor of Dhaka North BNP.

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"The BCB belongs to all of Bangladesh; it is not an individual's property. The sports adviser has essentially turned the BCB into his own personal entity. He has even stated that he will make [Aminul Islam] Bulbul Bhai the president at any cost. This autocracy and direct government intervention is something I don't believe any cricket lover in Bangladesh will accept," Aminul added.

Bulbul was re-elected as president of the country's most cash-rich sporting body for four years after 25 directors were elected through voting by councillors earlier in the day.

Earlier, Ishrak Hossain, another BNP leader and sports organiser, had questioned the validity of this election following the happenings on Monday.