The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh intensified its investigation into the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) with a fresh raid on the board’s headquarters in Mirpur on Saturday, marking the second such operation in just over a month.
A four-member ACC team arrived at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium around 1 p.m. to continue probing a widening range of corruption and irregularity allegations involving the governing body of cricket in the country.
The latest raid follows a previous operation by a three-member ACC team that investigated alleged issues tied to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), including suspected irregularities in ticket sales and other areas of concern.
Expanded scope includes constitutional violations and third-division league selection
While the earlier raid focused largely on BPL-related matters, the scope of the current investigation has expanded significantly. According to sources, the ACC is now examining:
- Alleged violations of the BCB’s constitution
- Questions surrounding the legitimacy of the current board’s formation
- Irregularities in the selection process for the third-division league during the tenure of a former BCB president
- Financial misconduct allegations involving current BCB President Faruq Ahmed
The inquiry into the third-division league’s selection process, in particular, has raised red flags over the fairness and transparency of talent identification and league management in grassroots cricket.
ACC reviews financial discrepancies from Mujib Year events
Following the first raid, ACC officials reported discrepancies in the BCB’s income and expenditure related to events held during Mujib Borsho (Mujib Year), a government-initiated commemoration of the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.
During that earlier operation, the ACC collected various financial documents and records. A report on those findings was expected to be submitted to the ACC’s Enforcement Unit, according to insiders familiar with the matter.
No official statement yet from ACC or BCB
Despite the growing scrutiny, neither the ACC nor the BCB has released an official statement about Saturday’s operation or the broader allegations under investigation.
The ongoing probe has sparked questions throughout the cricketing and governance circles in Bangladesh, with speculation rising over potential leadership accountability and structural reforms within the BCB.
