‘Everyone has gone silent out of fear’

Former Bangladesh women's cricket captain Jahanara Alam's allegations of sexual harassment have sparked widespread discussion in the country's sporting community. Bangladesh's table tennis legend Zobera Rahman Linu said such issues have long existed in sports and beyond. In an interview with The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan, Linu shared insights from her time in the Athletes Commission and suggested solutions; the excerpts of which are as follows:

The Daily Star (DS): Sexual misconduct has emerged in cricket and other sports. What's your view?

Zobera Rahman Linu (ZRL): When I was the chairperson of the Athletes Commission of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA; 2019–2023), this issue came to my attention first. During the last SA Games, my responsibility was to check on all the participants, how they were practising and if they had any problems. I had to take reports on all of this and submit them to the BOA. I had known about this matter for a long time, but it wasn't the right time to speak up.

DS: What kind of knowledge did you have related to these issues?

ZRL: The problems that exist in other sports -- like coaches abusing some, and some being abused by players. When I spoke to people in various sectors, they told me, "Apa, we are being abused this way." I then informed the BOA about what was happening, keeping their identities confidential. And we took some steps accordingly. We also warned those who were most implicated in bad behaviour. We took some actions like that.

Since Jahanara first reported it publicly, now everyone has taken notice. But these incidents have been happening for a long time. Actually, this is not limited to sport; this issue exists in all professional sectors. If sports are singled out, it won't sound good. People might think that these things only happen to women in sport.

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DS: Did such issues exist during your playing days?

ZRL: When we used to play sport, we didn't face these things. At least, I didn't. Because during our time, the boys and girls who came from such families, we considered ourselves like brothers and sisters. I even travelled abroad frequently when I was very young, and I never faced anything. But those who are coming into sport now -- most of them, not all, but most -- are coming from lower-middle-class backgrounds. What happens is that when they come here and receive some pocket money, it becomes very easy to abuse them.

Those who commit these acts think, "If I do something, I will get away with it." Because they won't speak up. They won't speak up because if they do, they will be thrown out. Due to this fear, many people (victims) endure everything in silence. Many incidents are happening secretly. But they are unable to speak up because they know that if they tell, they will be removed from the camp. Their family might depend on their income, so where will the family go? Considering all this, the girls have been suffering for so long.

They have kept silent, either just to stay on the team (to secure their spot) or to survive economically, enduring everything silently. But when Jahanara's matter came up, everyone gained the courage to speak. You will see many more things slowly come out.

DS: You reported incidents to the Olympic Association. Why did nothing progress?

ZRL: My job was to inform them, to take reports on everything that was happening. We were a six-member team on the committee, and all six of us had knowledge over these matters and we informed the BOA in writing. Afterwards, some actions were taken against them (the accused), but nothing more happened afterwards.

Because sometimes the girls who called me wouldn't mention their names. Maybe they called from an unknown number, saying, "They are doing this and that to us; please report it." Because of this, we couldn't even locate which girl it was.

Many don't want to come forward, because they fear that if we mention their names, the coach will exclude them. The same thing happened in cricket -- everyone has gone silent out of fear. Yes, this has been happening for a long time, and every federation has a few such incidents, more or less. In my estimation, perhaps the last 15 years, this has become much more widespread.

DS: Are these incidents increasing because institutions fail to act?

ZRL: Yes, it is definitely increasing. First, the biggest issue, in my opinion, is that we are unable to bring the evidence forward. The victim cannot just claim to be a victim verbally. They need proof, right? When we cannot provide the proof, I know that he is (committing abuse), but when such incidents occur and proof cannot be shown or mentioned, the accused gain an opportunity. Others are encouraged, knowing the victims lack evidence.

There are some who are genuine victims, and they have informed various people, but no solution is found.

DS: What's the way forward?

ZRL: In sectors like women's cricket, women's football, or whatever it is, the officials must be women, and the team management must be female. We do not lack good female organisers in Bangladesh, but we do not employ them. If you send a team abroad with a male manager, a girl might face many issues during the games. Will she speak openly about those issues to a male manager? Never. A girl can speak to another woman. Every federation should mandate female officials with female athletes.

DS: But the fact is, we know many names are coming up -- where influential or top officials of the board or federation are also involved in this. What action should be taken in their case?

ZRL: If it is proven, then they must definitely be sacked. What I said, the biggest problem is proof. In our country, in most cases, we talk, but since we lack proof -- you need evidence even if you commit murder. If there is no evidence, everyone is acquitted.

Because of this, they (the accused) use this lack of evidence as a weapon every time, and they continue to commit the same sinful acts. In this regard, if any girl has even the slightest bit of evidence, I urge them not to be afraid and to bring it forward. If the accused face punishment, they will think 10 times before doing such work in the future.