EC to complete hearings on 30 objections Thursday

The election commission (EC) for the upcoming Board of Directors' election of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Wednesday that it had received 30 objections to the draft voters' list and would hold hearings on those complaints on Thursday.

"A total of 30 complaints were received today… We will start hearings tomorrow from 10:00 am. We have appointed Monir Hossain as our commission secretary, and he received the complaints lawfully today (Wednesday)," said EC Sibgat Ullah, BPM, PPM, Additional Inspector General of Police and chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while speaking to The Daily Star.

Among the objectors were 15 clubs that were denied councillorship due to various irregularities and are currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). These clubs have appealed against their exclusion from the voters' list.

Initially, the BCB had included these 15 clubs in the Category-2 voters' list before submitting it to the EC. However, the EC later chose not to retain them in the list, citing "greater national interest" -- as mentioned in a letter attached to the draft list revealed on Tuesday.

Incumbent BCB director Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, representing Viking Cricket Academy -- one of the 15 excluded clubs -- argued that according to the BCB constitution, such clubs cannot be disqualified unless proven guilty.

"We have applied for natural justice now. I believe it's a violation of the BCB constitution… We are now waiting for tomorrow's hearing. If the verdict doesn't go in our favour, we will take legal steps," said Mithu, expressing hope for a fair decision from the EC.

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In addition to the clubs' objections, multiple complaints were filed against the councillor nomination of former BCB president Faruque Ahmed, who was nominated by Rangers Cricket Academy despite reportedly submitting his form after the deadline.

Meanwhile, a representative reportedly filed a complaint on behalf of former cricketer Sayed Halim Shah, who claimed that Halim is a committee member of Old DOHS Sports Club, objecting about the councillorship of Tamim Iqbal.

In the objection letter, which did not bear Halim's name, it was claimed that Tamim has no affiliation with the club while being a running player. As Tamim is yet to retire from all forms of competitive cricket, he can't represent at the BCB, according to the complaint.

It has been learnt that the objection wasn't received as Halim didn't submit the letter physically. However, EC Sibgat Ullah didn't want to make a comment on the matter.

The Daily Star tried to contact Halim multiple times but he could not be reached.

Additionally, former BCB director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan also submitted an objection after his councillorship from Nakhalpara Cricketers was denied due to the same issue affecting the 15 clubs.

Following today's hearings, the EC is expected to publish the final voters' list on Friday ahead of the BCB elections scheduled for October 6.