HC rejects writ petition challenging BCB’s ad hoc committee

The High Court on Monday summarily rejected a writ petition that challenged the legality of formation of 11-member ad hoc committee of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury passed the rejection order after hearing arguments on the petition.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque vehemently opposed the petition, saying that the petition is not acceptable as the petitioners are not aggrieved with the formation of the ad hoc committee of BCB.

Advocate Md Golam Kibria, one of the petitioners, and a lawyer, who moved the petition, told The Daily Star that they will move a petition before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s rejection order.

Seven lawyers including Golam Kibria, submitted the petition to the High Court on April 30 saying that the BCB’s elected committee had assumed office on October 6, 2025 through what it described as a free and fair election and had been performing its duties in accordance with the law within its stipulated tenure.

However, on April 7, the National Sports Council (NSC) invoked Section 21 of the National Sports Council Act, 2018 to dissolve the elected committee and form an 11-member ad hoc body.

The petitioners argued that Section 21 allows for the formation of an ad hoc committee only under special circumstances, such as when a committee fails to perform its responsibilities properly or is involved in conflicting interests.

They contended that no such allegations had been established against the elected BCB committee, and that the provision was misapplied to dissolve it.

“The action is unlawful, arbitrary and contrary to the principles of natural justice,” the petition said.

The writ further stated that forming an ad hoc committee before the expiry of the elected body’s tenure undermines democratic processes and the autonomy of sports organisations, and is inconsistent with constitutional principles and fundamental rights.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has been appointed as president of the ad hoc committee.

Other members are Rashna Imam, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed, Israfil Khasru, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Athar Ali Khan, Tanjil Chowdhury, Salman Ispahani, Rafiqul Islam Babu and Fahim Sinha.

The NSC had earlier said that the decision to form the ad hoc committee was taken based on the findings of its investigation committee.