Another candidate pulls out of ‘farcical’ BCB polls

Another candidate, Councillor of the Rajshahi Divisional Sports Association Hasibul Alam, has withdrawn candidacy for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election, citing fears of rigging.

He was running for a director’s post from Rajshahi. On Saturday, he arrived at the BCB office and declared that he would no longer take part in the election.

The official deadline for nomination withdrawals had passed on Wednesday, meaning Hasibul’s name will still appear on the ballot paper. However, he confirmed that he will not participate further.

His decision came less than 24 hours after Mohammad Lutfar Rahman, chairman of Legends of Rupganj, also pulled out of the contest. Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and 15 others have also withdrawn their nominations.

Speaking to reporters, Hasibul said he had gone to the BCB headquarters to ask how many Rajshahi councillors would cast votes via the e-voting system, but had received no clear information.

He alleged that from the very outset, he had been kept away from his voters, leaving no scope for a fair election.

 “On the 2nd of October, I wrote to the Election Commission. I can't find my voters, I can't campaign. I believe Mokhlesur Rahman’s nomination should be cancelled. The way he is collecting votes is completely illegal. The commission must act. Councillors who have given in to inducements should also lose their councillorships,” he said.

 “If things continue like this, the standard of the BCB election will deteriorate even further. The situation looks worse than in previous elections. There is no fair voting -- this has become a farce. I don't believe any good will come from this process, so I am withdrawing voluntarily.”

Hasibul also accused his rival Mokhlesur Rahman of confining Rajshahi councillors in a hotel in Dhaka.

 “I received a phone call from a foreign number saying Rajshahi councillors were at the Unique Regency Hotel in Dhaka, spread across eight rooms. The candidate and his associates were said to be in Room 603. I sent a representative who confirmed at the hotel counter that he was indeed staying there,” Hasibul said.

He said he then went to the Banani Police Station to complain.

 “I told them councillors from my district were being kept away. The officer said he would confirm whether they were at the hotel but did not arrange for me to meet them. I may contact him again soon for an update.”

According to the Election Commission, 35 voters are due to cast ballots in Category 1 in the Oct 6 poll -- 19 through e-voting and 16 in person.