BCB forms independent committee to investigate sexual harassment complaints from women cricketers

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has established an independent committee to investigate and hear sexual harassment complaints from women cricketers. The move follows allegations made in November 2025, when former national captain Jahanara Alam accused a member of the team management of sexual abuse.

An investigative committee led by Rubaba Dowla examined these allegations and recommended the formation of a dedicated complaints mechanism. The BCB working committee approved the establishment of this independent panel on October 28.

The five-member committee is headed by Barrister Rashna Imam, a Supreme Court lawyer who previously served on the board's ad hoc committee. Other members include Barrister Nazia Kabir, Barrister Anita Gazi Rahman and Zareen Mahmud Hosein, with Chandra Banerjee serving as secretary.

The board deliberately excluded anyone directly associated with the organisation from the committee to prevent internal influence and conflicts of interest when complaints are received and examined. The committee began operations with four members, with the fifth member to be finalised in due course.

The BCB's safeguarding framework aligns with a 2009 High Court Division ruling on institutional accountability. Chandra Banerjee, the committee secretary, outlined how the board has implemented multiple channels for players to report concerns without fear of retaliation or exposure. The policy has been circulated to the women's wing and is prominently displayed on the BCB website through a pop-up banner that directs visitors to the complaint filing process.

"The safeguarding policies are made in line with the international regulations and also with our domestic laws. Now the safeguarding policy has defined a range of actions which is not acceptable, and if any mishap happens how a player can approach us and how we maintain confidentiality and fairness in the process. The policy is all about our process," Chandra was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

"First of all, BCB has zero tolerance towards any kind of abuse, sexual harassment or whatever. To implement this, we have specified nicely within the policy where to reach out. This is step one. The second thing is that this has already been circulated in the women's wing," he added.

"Thirdly, if you visit our website, a pop-up banner suddenly appears on the website. So what does that mean? We are making this zero tolerance against sexual harassment and we are taking this very seriously, that as soon as you visit the website, you instantly get access to where you need to file your complaint. Besides this, we are also working on a lot of things to publicize this, which you will also see very soon," he added.

What measures protect complainants?

The committee's approach prioritises confidentiality and accessibility for all players, regardless of their legal background or familiarity with formal complaint procedures. Banerjee emphasised the importance of removing barriers that might prevent cricketers from coming forward with concerns. The board recognises that players may hesitate to report incidents due to worries about publicity or social consequences.

"I want to remove the fear among them, that's one. Secondly, I want to assure them that, for example, if someone complains to me now as a cricket player, you might have some hesitation in your mind, like, will this get a lot of publicity or will people know about it? So there are many mechanisms," Banerjee said.

"For example, the legal wordings in my policy or our policy might not be clear for someone who is not from a legal or commercial background, right? So I also have to explain the policy to them completely of what does the policy entail, how we are protecting you. Because it's their right to get a safe environment, a sound environment, a respectable environment," he added.

The BCB has initiated educational sessions for women cricketers to ensure they understand the complaint process and their rights. Approximately 100 women cricketers currently staying in Cox's Bazar for domestic tournaments participated in an initial awareness programme.

The board will hold a workshop to establish direct communication between the committee and cricketers, making the reporting process more accessible and transparent. These initiatives form part of the board's broader effort to create an environment where players feel confident raising concerns without fear of negative consequences.