Exclusive: Faruque Ahmed Slams BCB Ouster as Undemocratic and Politically Driven

Former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has strongly criticised the manner in which he was removed from office, claiming it lacked due process and was driven by internal resistance and political interference.

Faruque was replaced by former national captain Aminul Islam Bulbul after the National Sports Council (NSC) terminated Faruque’s position as its nominated director on May 29.

As he was nominated to the board by the NSC and elected as president by the directors, the cancellation of his counselorship also ended his tenure as BCB chief.

The change came amidst a politically sensitive backdrop. Faruque was appointed after Nazmul Hassan, the long-serving BCB president, was forced to flee during the student-led anti-government movement last year. While the new board retained several members from the previous administration, Faruque and development coach Nazmul Abedin Fahim were brought in as fresh faces representing a new direction.

"I WAS NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO DEFEND MYSELF"

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Faruque expressed frustration at the abrupt nature of his dismissal.

“I’ve never witnessed such a major decision being taken this quickly,” Faruque told SportsBoom.com. 

“A complaint was reportedly filed against me, but I wasn’t served a show-cause letter, nor given any formal opportunity to defend myself. That goes against the basic principles of fairness and governance.”

Faruque argued that while the NSC could revoke his position as a nominated board member, it did not have the authority to directly remove him from the presidency, a role he assumed through an internal election among directors.

“On Wednesday, I was informed indirectly that they didn’t want me to continue. Yet no one asked for my resignation. At 11pm Thursday, my councillor-ship was terminated. By noon the next day, a new councillor was appointed. Between 3pm and 4pm that same day, a new president was elected. The whole transition happened in less than 24 hours,” he recalled.

"THEY COULDN’T ACCEPT ME AS PRESIDENT"

Faruque believes that resistance from within the board played a significant role in his removal. He pointed to continued influence from former board figures and suggested a deep-rooted unwillingness to accept his leadership.

“Some board members never accepted me as president. The old power structures remained intact. People like Ismail Haider Mallick, a very influential figure from the previous board, still had strong connections. I call them ‘fascist friends.’ They approved everything in the past without question but now acted as if they were champions of governance,” he said.

“Even when I joined the board, eight of the ten remaining directors were from the previous regime. There was constant non-cooperation, passive resistance, and a lack of transparency.”

Faruque also noted that his role as president was not something he lobbied for or personally sought.

“The sports advisor brought me in. I never asked for this role. They gave me responsibility and then asked me to leave. That’s not just insulting to me — it reflects poorly on those who made these decisions.”

"IT WAS BEYOND MY IMAGINATION"

Faruque said he was caught completely off-guard by what he described as a “conspiracy,” especially so close to the end of the board’s term. The next BCB elections are expected to be held within three to four months.

“It was beyond my imagination that such a well-orchestrated move was taking place behind my back. I now believe it was part of a larger plan. According to what I’ve heard, this had been in motion for at least a month.”

Despite the bitterness of his exit, Faruque made it clear he bears no personal grudge against his successor, Aminul Islam.

“Bulbul was once my captain at the national level, and I was his captain in club cricket. We even played together at the 1999 World Cup. He’s a respected figure and has done excellent work as ICC’s development manager. I have no issue with him personally. My concern is solely with the undemocratic and opaque process that was used to install him.”

Faruque's removal raises broader concerns about governance and political influence within Bangladesh’s cricket administration.

The rapid reshuffling of leadership, seemingly without procedural safeguards, casts a shadow over the board’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

For a board that has long faced criticism over its internal politics, Faruque’s ousting adds another chapter to the narrative of behind-the-scenes power plays.

While the BCB has been lauded in recent years for developing infrastructure and international competitiveness, its internal governance continues to face scrutiny — and with the national elections approaching, further changes could lie ahead.

Faruque's words reflect a sobering reality: that in Bangladesh cricket, leadership can be as fragile and contested off the field as performances are on it.