Faruque Ahmed’s nine-month tenure as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) came to an abrupt end on Thursday following a decisive move by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The ministry officially withdrew his nomination as the National Sports Council’s (NSC) representative on the BCB board, citing a no-confidence letter signed by eight of the nine board directors and findings from a fact-finding committee investigating the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Faruque was appointed to the BCB board and elected president on August 21, 2024.
His removal follows serious allegations from the majority of board members accusing him of autocratic leadership and breaching the BCB constitution, specifically citing his unilateral dismissal of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha in October without board approval.
The no-confidence letter, signed by directors including Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Mahbubul Anam, Kazi Inam Ahmed, and others, accused Faruque of sidelining capable professionals in favour of personal loyalty, failing to conduct proper due diligence on BPL franchise approvals, and neglecting democratic governance principles.
A board insider, speaking anonymously, pointed to delays in forming new sub-committees and Faruque’s focus on his re-election bid as factors eroding trust within the board.
“I will speak to my lawyer about the letter. There is no mention of a no-confidence motion in the BCB constitution, so I don’t think it matters. I laughed out loud seeing the letter — they have accused me of wrongdoings they have committed themselves.”
With Faruque’s exit confirmed, former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul is set to take over as the new BCB president, pending formal election in a board meeting scheduled for later today.
