31 contestants to vie for 23 directors' posts in BCB election

A total of 31 contestants will vie for 23 directors’ posts in the Bangladesh Cricket Board election, set to take place on October 6.

Initially a total of 32 nominations were submitted.

However, Showkat Aziz Russell (Amber Sporting Club) in Club Category withdrew his nomination Thursday to reduce to final list of nominations to 31.

It is understood that Russell was influenced by prominent members in the sports fraternity to make the withdrawal.

Returning officer Ali Reza while speaking to the media Thursday informed the final list of contestants.

“One has withdrawn from the list of 32. The individual to make the withdrawal is Showkat Aziz Russell from Category 2,” said Reza.

A total of 23 directors will be elected from the three categories while the National Sports Council nominates two directors to finally form a 25-member BCB committee and run cricket in the country for the next four years.

In category one, 10 directors are elected from and by the district and divisional sports associations.

In category two, 12 directors are elected from and by the Dhaka clubs.

In category three, one director is elected with votes of councillors in former cricketers, university, education board and government agencies.

NSC has already nominated Ahmed Sajjadul Alam and Jalal Yonus, while seven more directors are set to get elected uncontested.

“After the withdrawal the final list now stands at – 13 individuals will contest in category one, 16 in category two and category three we have two contestants. We have 31 councillors in total contesting in the election. The time for withdrawal is close now,” said returning officer Reza.

Three directors will have to contest in district category while Tanvir Ahmed Titu, Naimur Rahman, Syed Ashraful Islam Titu and Khalid Hossain will contest in Dhaka Division.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud is contesting from Rajshahi against director of the current board Saiful Alam Chowdhury.

The contest in the club category will perhaps be the most exciting with 16 councillors competing for 12 directors' posts.

Nazmul Hasan [Abahani Ltd], Gazi Golam Mortuza [Gazi Group Cricketers], Nojib Ahmed [Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club], Mahbubul Anam [Mohammedan Sporting Club], Obaid Rashid Nizam [Shinepukur Cricket Club], Saiful Islam [Old DOHS Sports Club], Salahuddin Chowdhury [Kakrail Boys Club], IH Mallick [Sheikh Jamal Cricketers], Enayet Hossain [Azad Sporting Club], Fahim Sinha [Surjo Torun Club], Iftekhar Rahman [Fair Fighters Sporting Club], Mojour Kader [Dhaka Assets], Abdur Rahman [Mirpur Boys Cricket Club], Rafikul Islam [Gazi Tires Cricket Academy] and Mojour Alam [Asif Shifa Cricket Academy] – have all submitted forms in the category.

In category three, the contest will be between current board director Khaled Mahmud and former BCB official and current cricket advisor of Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. 

Fahim has obtained nomination from BKSP.

A total of 171 councillors divided in three categories will cast vote in the election.

As many as 71 councillors will cast vote in category one, 57 councillors in category two and 43 councillors will cast vote in category three.