BCB polls today after a series of controversies

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) board of directors election is set to take place today, following a series of dramas, controversies, and legal battles.

With a court order yesterday effectively restoring the voting rights of 15 clubs that were under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the electoral landscape has changed, as previously rejected candidate Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, an influential director of the last board, has been reinstated.

Earlier, the suspension of the 15 clubs had prompted former captain Tamim Iqbal, along with 15 other councillors, to withdraw their nominations, citing government interference.

A total of 157 voters will cast their ballots between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to elect 17 directors from 28 candidates.

Six directors have already been elected unopposed from Category 1 (district and division), while four more directors will be elected from this category today.

In addition, 12 directors will be elected from Category 2 (Dhaka clubs), and one director will be elected from Category 3 (others). Two more directors will later be nominated directly by the National Sports Council (NSC).

Once the new board is formed, elections for president and vice-presidents will follow, determining who will run Bangladesh cricket for the next four years.

In today's election, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul and vice-president Nazmul Abedeen Fahim are set to contest from the Dhaka Division alongside Abdullah Al Redwan Fuad. Two directors will be elected from the Dhaka Division.

Although Redwan withdrew his name from the elections yesterday, citing a lack of transparency, his name will still appear on the ballot paper since October 1 was the last official date for withdrawal.

According to the election commissioners, 58 voters will cast their votes via e-mail, while the remaining councillors will vote in person.

Addressing the complaints made by Tamim and others regarding alleged government interference, Aminul spoke to the media yesterday at the BCB premises about his four months in charge.

"An election is an election. I had a role. We did everything within the constitution of the Bangladesh Cricket Board," Aminul told reporters.

Aminul joined the board on May 30 through the NSC quota after former president Faruque Ahmed was removed from NSC councillorship following a letter of no-confidence from eight BCB directors.

Faruque, however, has come in as a nominee for directorship from the club category and is in a favourable position to be elected as a director.