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BCB launches probe into sexual harassment allegations made by Jahanara Alam
Follow UsAlam raised allegations against a former selector who indirectly asked for sexual favours
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has set up an independent committee to investigate sexual harassment allegations levelled by former Bangladesh women’s team pacer Jahanara Alam. The board has directed the panel to submit its report and recommendations within 15 working days.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has noted with concern the allegations reported in the media made by a former member of the Bangladesh national women’s cricket team regarding alleged misconduct by certain individuals associated with the team,” the BCB said in an official statement.
“As the matter is of a sensitive nature, the BCB has decided to form a committee to investigate the allegations thoroughly. The committee will submit its findings and recommendations within 15 working days. The BCB is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all its players and personnel. The Board takes such matters with utmost seriousness and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
Jahanara, one of Bangladesh’s key cricketers in the last decade, made the allegations during an interview with journalist Riasad Azim on YouTube. She claimed that she was subjected to indecent proposals and mistreatment from a former selector and other board officials during the 2022 ODI World Cup.
“I faced several times (indecent proposal) not once. Definitely, when we are involved with the team, we cannot speak out about many things, even if we want to. When it comes to your bread and butter, when you are known by a few people, you cannot say or protest many things even if you want to,” she said.
“Ultimately, cricket is my family, and I will definitely speak. I will speak so that maybe 10 more girls will want to return safely, just as I survived and returned. I want a beautiful environment for those 10 girls, and for them to play cricket safely in a safe environment, at least,” she added.
Jahanara further alleged that she was asked to "look after" a board official, indicating the indirect demands of sexual favours.
“In 2021, Touhid Bhai approached me through Babu Bhai (Coordinator Sarfraz Babu). Why they misbehaved with me, I do not know. I tried a lot to suppress this and play cricket well. But when I technically avoided it, Manju Bhai started misbehaving, humiliating and insulting me since the next day.”
“Touhid Bhai never approached me directly; he used Babu Bhai to approach me. After a year and a half, I gave my letter to the CEO, calling it an ‘Observation Letter’. I mentioned everything A to Z in the letter. Babu Bhai told me to ‘look after Touhid Sir’. I technically avoided it, pretending I didn't understand the details of the proposal. I am sharing this so that if any girl deals with this later, they can deal with it this way, too. This is how Manju Bhai's bad behaviour started.”
She also stated that the harassment continued during the World Cup. “Next, I got the second proposal from Manju Bhai during the 2022 World Cup. It seemed to me that I needed to inform the BCB about the incidents that happened to me over the past year and a half. I informed Nadel Sir, the head of my cricket family, countless times in many ways. He would provide a temporary solution, and Manju Bhai would be fine for a day or two, and later the same. I even informed the CEO Sir.”
The allegations come just days after Jahanara accused national captain Nigar Sultana of physically assaulting junior players. The BCB dismissed these claims as “baseless, fabricated and devoid of any truth.”