Election commission receives 14 objections over councillorship
Former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Sunday demanded that the Bangladesh Cricket Board election schedule should either be cancelled or postponed unless a written copy of the Supreme Curt directive is obtained. Saber placed his demand to the election commission in the afternoon and sought a written explanation over some of his queries that he said is crucial for ensuring a free and fair election in the cricket oversight body.
The election commission accepted his plea and promised to come up with an answer.
‘I have come here to lodge my protest against the whole election process,’ Saber told reporters at the National Sports Council office. ‘The constitution of Bangladesh clearly states that all citizens must accept any verdict of the Super Court Appellate Division. This is why I have asked them if they have any copy of the court order,’ he said.
‘The election commission could not produce any copy of the verdict and only promised to give me a written explanation tomorrow [today]. I have asked them to postpone or cancel the election until they get the copy of the verdict,’ he said.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on July 25 allowed the BCB to hold its executive body’s election in the greater interest of the game, despite a legal bar on the BCB constitution.
The BCB and the NSC took initiative of holding the election under a constitution approved by the latter on November 29, 2012. Saber questioned the BCB’s authority in seeking councillorships for the election under this constitution, which is favoured by the current executive committee.
‘In section 12.7 of this constitution it is clearly stated that the BCB can seek councillorship for a general meeting, not for the election, but the Board clearly violated this section,’ said Saber.
The former BCB president, however, refused to confirm if he was backing out from his earlier decision of contesting the election, scheduled for October 10.
‘I want to stay positive. Let’s see what happens. We have still some time to decide,’ he said.
The election commission said it received a total of 14 objections including the one from Saber and accepted nine for hearing. It, however, did not give any decision regarding the councillorship.
Officials said seven allegations came respectively from Narail, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Jamalpur, Khulna and Lakshmipur districts while two allegations came from Khulna and Rajshahi divisions.
Among the clubs, Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra and
Rayer Bazar Athletics Club lodged a protest about the councillorship of two ad hoc committee stalwarts – Ahmed Sazzadul Alam and Jalal Yunus.
Apart from these, four clubs have submitted applications seeking their right to nominate councillors. Mirpur Boys Club, Hillol Jubo Sangha, North Bengal Cricket Academy and Sonar Bangla Cricket Academy said they were denied the right because of flawed standings in different leagues.
Chief election commissioner Abdur Rahman said they will give their decision on the objections today.
-With New Age input
