The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formed an independent complaints committee for women cricketers, appointing Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Rashna Imam to lead the five-member panel, according to a report by The Daily Observer.
The committee has been established to receive complaints involving sexual harassment and abuse, with its membership drawn from outside the BCB to support impartial investigations and protect complainants from potential internal influence.
The development follows earlier discussions within the board about introducing an independent mechanism for women cricketers, particularly in cases involving individuals connected to cricket administration or team management.
Rashna Imam to lead independent complaints panel
Imam previously served on the convener committee headed by Tamim Iqbal before the BCB’s latest election, during which she also led the board’s Women’s Wing.
The other named members are Barrister Nazia Kabir, Barrister Anita Ghazi Rahman and Zarin Mahmud Hossain. A former cricketer is expected to complete the five-member panel, although the final appointment has yet to be announced.
The committee’s composition excludes individuals currently affiliated with the BCB, an arrangement intended to prevent conflicts of interest and allow complaints to be examined without interference from within the organisation.
BCB Women’s Wing Chief Rafiqul Islam indicated that there had been longstanding demand for such a body and that cricketers would be able to approach it with their concerns.
BCB working committee had backed independent oversight
The initiative was previously discussed during an October 28 meeting of the BCB’s 11-member working committee at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, as detailed in reporting by Cricbuzz journalist Atif Azam.
A BCB Director who serves on the working committee said, as quoted by Cricbuzz: “Yes, the matter (formation of an Independent Complaint Committee) was raised during the last working committee meeting, and we agreed that we need to form it.”
The discussions also addressed the possibility of interference when complaints involved employees or officials connected to existing BCB committees. Appointing individuals from outside the board was considered a way to separate the complaints process from those administrative relationships.
The Director added: “We want to bring people from outside for the committee, as it will ensure that if a woman cricketer files a complaint against anyone, we have a free and fair investigation.”
Jahanara Alam allegations preceded governance changes
The BCB’s efforts to strengthen its complaints procedures followed allegations by former Bangladesh women’s cricketer Jahanara Alam, who accused a member of the national team’s management of sexual abuse.
In response, the board established an inquiry committee and announced additional institutional safeguards in line with a 2009 judgement by the High Court Division concerning complaints mechanisms.
BCB Director Rubaba Dowla, who was then Chairperson of the Women’s Wing Committee, headed the earlier committee. Its responsibilities included examining the allegations, developing an independent complaints process and introducing mandatory awareness training across Bangladesh cricket.
The newly formed panel represents a departure from that board-led arrangement, with responsibility for handling complaints assigned to external members.
The committee’s four named members have now been identified, while the selection of a former cricketer to complete its membership remains outstanding.
