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Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam reiterated their ‘zero tolerance’ policy against any misconduct on Sunday after they formed an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations made by former national team captain Jahanara Alam recently.  

Retired Justice Tariq ul Hakim of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court would be the convener, while BCB director Rubaba Dowla and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla, would be the members. 

‘This committee was formed so that it can work independently,’ Aminul told reporters after the first day of the Bangladesh Cricket Conference held at a city hotel on Sunday.

‘But we thought someone from the board should be there so that she can provide the necessary information.’ 

However, Aminul said that they didn’t receive any verbal or written complaints from Jahanara or anyone. 

‘We are receiving the news from different sources. But no verbal or written complaint has been submitted. But still we’re looking after this,’ he said.  

‘Most probably the issue was resolved in 2021. But whatever the new [allegations] have been coming, we have not received those yet [officially],’ he added.  

‘We will go to further action after the committee submits the report. Their scope of work will not be confined to the incidents related to Jahanara Alam; they will try to find out others as well,’ said Amzad Hussain, the chairman of the media committee of the BCB. 

‘Regarding any harassment, be it verbal, physical, psychological or cyber, our board has a zero-tolerance policy. We will not tolerate any of this kind. Strict actions will be taken,’ he added. 

‘We were not there [on the board] back then. But that doesn’t mean we cannot be held responsible. With full effort, we are giving it full priority. Inshallah we will keep patience,’ he further said. 

After Jahanara alleged the former selector and manager of the women’s team, Manjurul Islam, and the former in-charge, the late Tawhid Mahmud, of sexual harassment, the BCB announced that they would form a committee. 

On Sunday, it was also reported that four officials – manager SM Golam Faiyaz, physio Suraiya Akter, coach Mahmud Emon and official Sarfaraz Babu – were put on special duty (OSD) by the BCB on Sunday. 

In the meantime, another former cricketer and current coach, Reshma Akter, made allegations against various people, including the current board director and chairman of the cricket operations, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. 

However, the BCB didn’t confirm their recent actions on the aforementioned four officials but stated that these can be done if the inquiry committee asks them to do so. 

‘Whether that is an employee or a director, there’s an investigation committee responsible. We are not entitled to make any decisions. If they tell us to OSD four officials, then we will do so,’ said Shanian Taneem, director of the BCB. 

‘You want to hear something about a director. The decision is theirs to take. If the allegations were against me, then the investigations would have been done on me. It is also applicable to the board president, an employee, or any director,’ he added. 

When Aminul was asked whether the BCB would take action if it were against a director, he replied, ‘Zero tolerance.’ 

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh on Sunday called for the inclusion of at least two members in the committee with expertise and experience in handling sexual harassment cases in a press release.