Allegations surface from former Bangladesh captain
Former Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Jahanara Alam has come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against members of the national team management, including former selector and team manager Manjurul Islam. In an interview on The Riasat Azim YouTube channel, she detailed multiple incidents spanning from 2021 through the 2022 Women’s World Cup, which she said left her mentally distressed and ultimately sidelined from the national setup.
Describing her silence over the years, she explained, “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.”
Despite the toll, Jahanara said she felt a responsibility to protect others. “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.”
Claims tied to incidents from 2021 and 2022
Jahanara described how, in 2021, she was allegedly approached with an inappropriate proposal through Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) staffer Sarfaraz Babu, acting on behalf of the late Towhid Mahmud. “In 2021, Touhid Bhai approached me through Babu Bhai (Coordinator Sarfraz Babu). I have said this in various places. Why they misbehaved with me, I do not know. I tried a lot to suppress this and play cricket well. But when I technically avoided it, Manju Bhai started misbehaving, humiliating and insulting me since the next day. And I was not actually used to such humiliation.”
She added that after being persistently harassed, she attempted to raise the issue formally. “Touhid Bhai never approached me directly; he used Babu Bhai to approach me. And when, after a year and a half, I gave my letter to the CEO, I called it an ‘Observation Letter,’ not a ‘Complaint Letter.’ I said ‘Observation Letter.’ I mentioned everything A to Z in the letter to the CEO on the incidents that happened. Babu Bhai told me to ‘look after Touhid Sir.’ So I said, ‘What is there for me to look after regarding him? He is just the in-charge. What is there for me to look after regarding him? He is the highest authority, or now he is in the post after the Chairman. What is there for me to look after regarding him?’ I technically avoided it this way, pretending I didn’t understand the details of the proposal. I am sharing this so that if any girl deals with this later, they can deal with it this way, too. This is how Manju Bhai’s bad behavior started.”
Specific misconduct alleged during 2022 World Cup
Jahanara said that the harassment continued into the 2022 Women’s World Cup, where she once again felt compelled to report the behavior. “Next, I got the second proposal from Manju Bhai during the 2022 World Cup. It seemed to me that I needed to inform the BCB about the incidents that happened to me over the past year and a half. Who should I inform? Nadel Sir, the head of my cricket family, I informed him countless times over the year and a half in many ways. He would provide a temporary solution and Manju Bhai would be fine for a day or two and later the same. I even informed the CEO Sir.”
She recalled disturbing incidents during the World Cup camp in New Zealand. “Next, he (Manju) approached me. I went to the World Cup, in New Zealand. We were supposed to have a pre-camp, and the session was on the fifth or sixth day, I don’t remember the exact time. On the fifth or sixth day, I was bowling in the nets. He came near my shoulder. And his habit is that he grabs any girl’s shoulder. So he grabbed my shoulder. Manju Bhai used to hold and press us to his chest, hold us tight, and bring his mouth near our ears. He is very tall. He used to bend down near the ear and then talk. And sometimes, whenever there was a happy or sad situation, he would take our head and press it against his chest. Maybe you have seen or not seen in some World Cup matches, when we shake hands in the line, instead of shaking hands, he would grab everyone and take them to his chest. So what did we do? We would extend our hands from a little distance so we wouldn’t have to go there. We used to be scared about this behind the scenes, but we also used to joke about it, ‘Oh, he is coming, he will take us to his chest now.’ So girls used to talk about these things.”
Jahanara also recounted a graphic and deeply personal moment, alleging sexual harassment under the pretext of health-related inquiries. “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.’”
Jahanara said she was taken aback by the deeply personal nature of the questions, and tried to deflect the situation as calmly as possible. Despite her attempts to avoid confrontation, she recalled that the official continued pressing her.
“He said, ‘Yours should have ended by now. Does anyone have a period for this long? And when your period is over, tell me, because I have to look after my side too, right?’ Then I looked at him, and after looking, he said, ‘What?’ ‘I am sorry, Bhaiya, I didn’t understand.’ So he said, ‘Five days, it should have ended. You have to look after my side too. If you have a period for this long… you have to look after my side too.’ So, I said, ‘Bhaiya, sorry, I didn’t understand your point.’ He said, ‘There is nothing much to understand. When your period is over, tell me. You have to look after my side too; you have to understand this.’”
Officials respond as inquiry looms
In the wake of Jahanara’s public allegations, several figures named in her account responded with firm denials. As scrutiny intensifies, the individuals involved have begun offering their versions of events to the media.
In response to the allegations, Manjurul Islam has denied the accusations. “What can I say apart from terming it as baseless,” he told Cricbuzz. He added, “You can ask other cricketers whether I was good or bad.”
Sarfaraz Babu, who was also named in the interview, rejected the claims as fabricated. “It’s unfortunate she is dragging a dead man I just want her to come up with proof instead of making baseless accusations,” he told Cricbuzz, referring to the late Towhid Mahmud.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board acknowledged awareness of the situation and has indicated a possible investigation. “The allegations are quite serious and so we have to sit and decide what should be our next course of action and if required we will certainly have an investigation,” said BCB vice-chairman Shakhawat Hossain, speaking to Cricbuzz.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has stated that a committee will look into the matter and deliver its findings within 15 working days. In its public response, the board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining institutional integrity and player safety.
The BCB issued its statement late Thursday night, confirming that it would act upon the outcome of the investigation once the committee concludes its review.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has noted with concern the allegations reported in the media made by a former member of the Bangladesh national women’s cricket team regarding alleged misconduct by certain individuals associated with the team,” the statement read. “As the matter is of a sensitive nature, the BCB has decided to form a committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly. The committee will submit its findings and recommendations within 15 working days. The BCB is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all its players and personnel. The board takes such matters with utmost seriousness and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
As the cricketing world awaits the findings of the internal inquiry, the allegations have sparked renewed scrutiny over the governance and safeguards in women’s sport. The outcome of the investigation could have lasting implications for how future complaints are handled within Bangladesh cricket and beyond.
