The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has added two new members to the committee investigating allegations of misconduct in women’s cricket, increasing the total number of members to five. The board confirmed the appointments in a press release on Thursday.
The move comes after all-rounder Jahanara Alam, who is currently outside the national team, accused former women’s team selector and manager Manjurul Islam of sexual harassment and mental abuse in a recent YouTube interview. Following these allegations, the BCB established a three-member investigation committee last Saturday.
The committee is chaired by retired Supreme Court Appellate Division judge Tariq Ul Hakim. The original members included the BCB’s only female director, Rubaba Dowla, and senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) subsequently urged in a statement on Sunday that at least two independent experts with experience in handling sexual harassment cases be added to the committee to ensure a fair and impartial inquiry.
Responding to this, the BCB announced today that two experienced lawyers have been appointed to the committee: Professor Dr Naeema Haque, former Chair of the Law Department at Dhaka University and current member of the Law Commission, and senior Supreme Court advocate Barrister Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman Khan.
The BCB had previously stated that the committee is required to submit its report within 15 working days of its formation.