Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed has said that the board is actively considering appointing an audit firm to investigate potential irregularities during the tenure of former president Nazmul Hasan Papon.
Faruque, the newly appointed BCB president, presided over his first board meeting on Thursday (29 August). The meeting addressed a wide range of topics, with the discussion on possible irregularities under the previous administration being of paramount importance.
While the BCB president did not specify a timeline for when the audit would commence, he confirmed that the board is committed to conducting an independent investigation into the allegations.
“There are allegations, which is why we have decided to investigate through an audit firm. If anyone is found involved in any wrongdoing, they will be held accountable,” Faruque stated.
The board was expected to appoint directors to key committees to ensure smooth operations. However, with some directors hesitant to work under the new leadership, these appointments remain pending. The board will reconvene to address this issue and determine the next steps.
Faruque mentioned that he might assume the role of in-charge for at least four committees, though he did not disclose which committees he would lead.
During its first meeting, which lasted several hours, the board decided to cancel the tender process for the proposed Sheikh Hasina Stadium in Dhaka's Purbachal. While the president did not provide a specific reason for this decision, it is understood that the current government is reluctant to proceed with the project in its current form, both in terms of its name and structural plan.
“There are numerous factors involved that are related to the ministry. However, we are striving to provide two playable fields within the same location and are actively working to recover as much of the money already spent as possible,” Faruque said when asked about the reason for canceling the stadium project.
The board is yet to decide on the future of Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of the Bangladesh national team. Faruque previously expressed his personal disinterest in retaining Chandika but stated that a final decision would be made after Bangladesh’s ongoing series against Pakistan.
