Probe committee neutral, affirms Salahuddin

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin believes the investigation committee, formed to look further into the financial irregularities involving former BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, will work neutrally and report their findings within 30 working days.

Although the local game's governing body formed a 10-member special committee on April 17 by naming BFF vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed as the convener, the committee could not begin proceedings yet.

"He [Kazi Nabil Ahmed] is back in town and will start work within two to three days, and needs 30 working days to complete the investigation," BFF president Kazi Salahuddin informed reporters after a two-and-half hour meeting of the BFF executive committee at the BFF House yesterday.

"The committee will find out whether there were any mistakes from others. Once he gives us the report, then we will decide what to do," Salahuddin informed further, adding the existing eight members excluding two resigned vice-presidents will carry out the investigation.

Asked whether it was possible to form a neutral committee to investigate further, Salahuddin replied, "It is neutral. Are you questioning the integrity of Kazi Nabil Ahmed, who is also a member of parliament?"

The executive committee meeting also approved the inaugural franchise-based Women's Super League which is scheduled to get underway on May 15 with the participation of four teams.

"We discussed a lot of things in the meeting which also approved the Women's Super League, which is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. The whole idea of Women's Super League is made to allow another way to make money for them. The girls will gain experience in future by playing with the foreign players. Now women's football is on  top and we also want to keep it in this place." he said.

Salahuddin also informed that they were also mulling to avail the FIFA Forward 3 fund, worth USD 30 lakh, by which they would lay new turf at the Kamalapur stadium in Dhaka and BFF artificial ground, subject to meet the condition of FIFA, as well as floor an open tender for the design of BFF Centre of Excellence in Cox's Bazar, also under FIFA forward programme.

Moreover, the BFF boss informed that technical director Paul Smalley has decided to terminate his contract, which would have run till 2024, with the board after the Englishman arrives in the country on May 14.