The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is taking steps to introduce an independent complaint committee dedicated to women cricketers. A board official confirmed on Monday that the initiative was formally discussed during the working committee meeting held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on October 28.
A director serving on the 11-member working committee noted that while the proposal was raised and received general consensus, it still requires formal approval during a board meeting. The organization aims to ensure the committee operates with complete autonomy rather than relying on board members for oversight. Officials believe that by recruiting external members, the board can guarantee a transparent and fair investigation process should any player file a complaint against staff or team management. According to “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 board director, who is part of the 11-member worki. I mean, the proposal has been raised, but it hasn’t been approved (as it needs to be tabled at the board meeting),” he said. “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,” he said. Considering that if a complaint was directed against an employee of a particular committee, me, it was learnt that a certain section of the board’s top officials felt that the committee should include people from outside.
This push for an independent body stems from concerns that internal investigations could be compromised if they involve employees from specific departments under scrutiny. The proposed structure is intended to prevent potential interference and encourage women cricketers to report grievances without fear or hesitation.
This development follows previous controversies, including allegations from Jahanara Alam regarding sexual assault by a member of the team management, which prompted the BCB to establish an inquiry committee. To bolster institutional safeguards, the board has committed to adopting a complaint mechanism aligned with the High Court Division’s 2009 directive. Previously, an inquiry committee was chaired by BCB Director and Women’s Wing Committee Chairperson Rubaba Dowla, with a focus on implementing mandatory awareness training and creating a secure environment. Moving forward, the board intends for the new complaint committee to operate without current directors at the helm to better foster an atmosphere of safety and accountability. The BCB announced that it had decided to strengthen its institutional safeguards through the adoption of a BCB Complaint Committee in accordance with the High Court Division’s 2009 judgement, simultaneously.
