The Bangladesh Cricket Board has formally barred former women’s team selector Monjurul Islam from all cricket-related activities under its jurisdiction, bringing to a close an inquiry that began after serious allegations were raised by former captain Jahanara Alam.
Following a board meeting in Dhaka, the BCB confirmed the decision in an official statement, declaring, “Based on the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee formed by the BCB to examine the complaint lodged by former Bangladesh Women’s National Team Captain Jahanara Alam, the Board has decided to impose a ban on former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from all forms of direct or indirect employment and/or cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board,” the board said.
Inquiry findings and disciplinary action
The disciplinary action follows the submission of a report by an Independent Inquiry Committee established to investigate claims of sexual misconduct against Islam, who had served as selector and manager of the Bangladesh women’s team after his appointment in 2020.
In a release dated February 4, the BCB confirmed that the committee had “examined four specific allegations made by Jahanara Alam”.
The same release detailed the outcome of that review, stating, “Two of these allegations were not substantiated by the available evidence. With regard to the remaining two allegations, the [inquiry] committee found prima facie evidence of inappropriate conduct by the then selector and manager of the Bangladesh women’s team, Md Monjurul Islam, whose contractual tenure with the BCB ended on 30 June 2025. The Committee noted behaviour inconsistent with professional standards, and observed that certain actions fell within the definition of misconduct and harassment under the applicable guidelines of the Supreme Court.”
Islam’s contractual tenure with the BCB had already concluded on June 30, 2025. However, the board’s decision now formally prohibits him from any direct or indirect involvement in cricket activities under its authority.
The BCB further indicated that the matter may not be fully closed. “The BCB is reviewing the recommendations of the Committee and will take any additional measures deemed necessary in light of the report,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in its official statement.
Allegations trace back to 2022 Women’s World Cup
The case stems from allegations made public by Jahanara Alam in November 2025. As previously reported by Cricexec, the former Bangladesh captain accused members of the national team management, including Monjurul Islam, of sexual harassment during the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and in the period leading up to it.
In an interview on The Riasat Azim YouTube channel, she described repeated incidents that she said left her mentally distressed and ultimately sidelined from the national setup. “I faced several times (indecent proposal) not once. Definitely, when we are involved with the team, we cannot speak out about many things, even if we want to. When it comes to your bread and butter, when you are known by a few people, you cannot say or protest many things even if you want to,” she said.
Detailing one of the alleged incidents during the 2022 Women’s World Cup camp in New Zealand, Jahanara recounted, “He came to me and took my hand, again put his hand on my shoulder, brought his mouth near my head, and said, ‘How many days is your period running today?’ He is directly asking this because he already has the information. Because normally, based on ICC guidelines, the doctor who gives us classes, the physiotherapist or doctor collects period dates from every team. And every international women’s team uses an app for this, so that the girls remain secure, safe, and their cycles remain okay. That’s why normally our physios always keep these records. He had a big headache. Being a selector, being a manager, I don’t know what need he had, but he forcefully asked in a different way, which is not normal. And his second question was, when I said, ‘Bhaiya, five days’. He said: ‘Five days? Does anyone stay like this? Yours should have ended a day earlier.’ So I looked at him directly, staring at his face, and I said, ‘Sorry, Bhaiya, I didn’t understand.’”
She also explained her broader motivation for speaking out despite the risks involved. “Look, ultimately cricket is my family, and I will definitely speak. I will speak so that maybe 10 more girls will want to return safely, just as I survived and returned. Maybe 10 girls will think, ‘It’s not necessary, let everyone do whatever they want,’ but the world is made up of good and bad, right? I want a beautiful environment for those 10 girls, and for them to play cricket safely in a safe environment, at least.”
Following her public allegations, the BCB launched a formal investigation, ultimately leading to the committee’s findings and the ban announced this week.
Jahanara has since stepped away from cricket, citing mental health reasons, and has not represented Bangladesh since December 2024.
Board restructuring and selection panel extension
At the same meeting in Dhaka, the BCB addressed leadership matters within its national selection structure. The board confirmed a short-term extension for Gazi Ashraf Hossain, whose tenure as Chairman of the National Selection Panel was due to end on February 28.
“In view of his intention to step down at the end of his tenure as Chairman National Selection Panel, the Board has decided to offer a one-month extension to Gazi Ashraf Hossain. During this period, the Board will work on finding his successor and reorganisation of the panel,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in a statement.
The board also approved the schedule for the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League, set to be held from April 4 to 14, 2026, across Dhaka and Chattogram.
Governance spotlight on Bangladesh cricket
The Monjurul Islam case has drawn significant scrutiny to governance, player welfare and safeguarding mechanisms within Bangladesh cricket, particularly in the women’s game.
By imposing a ban and leaving the door open to additional disciplinary measures, the BCB has taken its most decisive action yet in response to allegations that first surfaced publicly in November 2025. The long-term implications — both for institutional oversight and for how future complaints are handled — will now be closely watched across the regional and global cricket ecosystem.
