Nazmul-panel suffers defeat in Barisal
Former national captain Naimur Rahman was re-elected as the director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board in a keenly-contested election held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.
Kishoreganj councillor Syed Ashfaqul Islam joined Manikganj’s Naimur on the 26-member board of directors from Dhaka division as they both secured 13 votes out of 18.They beat Narayanganj councillor Tanvir Ahmed Titu and Narsinghdi councillor Shahinur Islam, who claimed seven and three votes respectively in the much-anticipated election.
However, in a setback to BCB president Nazmul Hasan, his panel candidate MA Awal Chowdhury lost from Barisal division by 5-2 votes to independent candidate Alamgir Khan, a beaten candidate in last year’s Bangladesh Football Federation election.
A total of 20 directors, including Nazmul, were elected unopposed in different categories while National Sports Council nominated two directors to the Board as per the constitution, amended in early October.
The 25 elected and nominated directors will now elect the president and two vice-presidents to run the country’s richest sports body for the next four years.
The election for the president post in all likelihood will be held today with Nazmul apparently facing no opposition from any other director for a fresh term.
However, there is no indication of elections for the post of two vice-presidents as multiple candidates expressed their desire for the posts, currently occupied by Chittagong mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and former general secretary Mahbubul Anam.
Nazmul was confident about his re-election as BCB president.
‘So far I am the only candidate for president… since there is no other candidate I am going to be re-elected,’ he told reporters on Tuesday.
Nazmul accepted the defeat of his panel in Barisal division, welcoming the winner Alamgir Khan.
‘I did not ask anyone to vote for any specific candidate,’ said the ruling-party lawmaker.
‘Last time Bhulu [MA Awal Chowdhury] was with us. This time he could not be elected. We will miss him. It could have been better if he was re-elected. But the new one is also an experienced man. His experience will help us,’ he said.
All eyes, however, were on Naimur, who faced a strong challenge in Dhaka divisions with at least two candidates posing a big threat to him.
Naimur was happy to win the election like his previous term when he had to face the election, unlike most other directors.
‘Call it luck or process, I also had to face an election last time,’ said Naimur. ‘I won there. I enjoy participating in an election. It gives you more satisfaction. It’s like coming with a mandate, which makes you feel better,’ said Naimur.
-With New Age input
