The investigation report on Jahanara’s allegations is now with the BCB

The five-member committee formed to investigate allegations of sexual harassment by former national cricketer and team manager Monjurul Islam has submitted its report to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday. The complaint was initially lodged by former Bangladesh women’s team captain Jahanara Alam, who accused a member of the team management of sexual misconduct. In response, BCB constituted an independent inquiry committee to examine the matter thoroughly.

Ahead of the report’s submission, the High Court issued a significant legal directive on Sunday, questioning the board’s prolonged silence on the matter. The court sought clarification on why BCB’s inaction could not be considered legally improper. A bench comprising Justice Ahmad Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar delivered the ruling following a hearing on a writ petition filed by Jahanara Alam.

The High Court’s directive requires BCB to:

Explain the reasons for not submitting the investigation report within the stipulated timeframe.

Provide a detailed account of the steps taken in response to Jahanara Alam’s allegations.

Outline the measures BCB plans to implement in the future to prevent similar incidents.

A BCB director, speaking to Jugantor, stated, “The committee may have taken a little extra time to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation. Nevertheless, the report concerning Jahanara Alam has been formally submitted to the board. It will now proceed to the disciplinary committee for further action.”

The director further confirmed that the contents of the investigation report will be made publicly available once the disciplinary committee reviews it.

Jahanara Alam initially raised the allegation in November of last year, accusing Monjurul Islam, a former national cricketer, selector, and team manager, of sexual harassment. In response to the public disclosure, BCB formed the investigation committee and extended the submission deadline twice. On 21 December, BCB announced that the independent committee would submit the final report by 31 January. Due to the closure of BCB’s office on that day, the report was formally submitted on Monday.

For clarity, the timeline of the case is summarised below:

The case marks a significant step in addressing allegations of misconduct within Bangladesh cricket, reflecting the growing demands for accountability and transparency in the sport’s administration.