HC dismisses writ challenging BCB election schedule and voter list

The High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the validity of the election schedule and voter list for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) board election scheduled for 7 June, ruling that the application was not maintainable.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice Md Asif Hasan passed the order today (3 June).

Senior lawyer Mohammad Hossain Lipu, along with lawyers Azim Uddin Patwari and Md Shafiqul Islam, appeared for the petitioners during the hearing. Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus and lawyer Mahin M Rahman represented the National Sports Council (NSC) and the BCB.

On 18 May, six councillors filed a writ petition seeking the withdrawal of notices sent to various clubs requesting nominations of councillors for the BCB election.

The respondents included the youth and sports secretary, the chairman of the National Sports Council, the president of the BCB ad hoc committee, the BCB chief executive officer, and the administrators of Bandarban, Khulna, Lakshmipur, Faridpur, Brahmanbaria and Dhaka districts.

The petitioners were Armanul Islam Nayan, Md Naim Hawlader, Md Enamul Ahsan, Md Abdullah Arko, Akib Javed Munna and Md Rakibul Islam, who had been nominated as councillors by different clubs for four years.

A supplementary application was filed with the writ on Monday, seeking a directive to prepare a new voter list including the petitioners' names and to halt the activities under the announced election schedule.

The writ petition was heard yesterday (2 June).

The BCB Election Commission announced the election schedule on 16 May. A draft voter list was published on 17 May.

A total of 23 directors will be elected through direct voting, while two directors will be nominated by the NSC. The 25 directors will then elect the board president.