In a strongly worded press release issued on Tuesday, Bulbul denied all allegations of irregularities surrounding the October 6, 2025 BCB election, insisting that the process was conducted transparently and in accordance with the board’s constitution.
The statement came just hours after the National Sports Council (NSC) formally dissolved the elected BCB body and installed an 11-member ad-hoc committee headed by Tamim Iqbal.
The newly formed committee has been tasked with running the board and holding fresh elections within the next 90 days.
Bulbul, however, refused to recognise either the probe findings or the interim committee.
“I categorically deny any and all allegations of corruption, manipulation, or abuse of power regarding the BCB elections held on October 6, 2025,” Bulbul said in the statement.
He argued that the election was overseen by a legitimate three-member election commission and that all objections raised before the polls were properly heard and settled through due process.
Bulbul also claimed the NSC had no legal authority to investigate a completed election of an autonomous cricket body, describing the inquiry as politically motivated.
He further alleged that the move to remove the elected board and replace it with an ad-hoc committee was a direct breach of the International Cricket Council’s anti-government interference principles.
“The purported dissolution of the elected Board of Directors and the imposition of an ad-hoc committee led by Mr. Tamim Iqbal is a constitutional coup,” the statement read.
Despite Bulbul’s objections, the NSC has already moved forward with a new structure.
The newly announced 11-member ad-hoc committee will be led by Tamim Iqbal, with former cricketers and administrators including Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Athar Ali Khan, Rashna Imam, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Syed Ibrahim, Israfil Khosru, Tanzil Chowdhury, Salman Ispahani, Rafiqul Islam Babu and Fahim Sinha also included.
The decision followed the submission of the probe report led by former judge A K M Asaduzzaman, which examined allegations of irregularities in the 2025 election.
The investigation was launched after months of controversy surrounding the BCB polls, with several top clubs and stakeholders raising concerns over transparency, councillor nominations and the overall election process.
Before dissolving the board, the Sports Ministry and NSC had already indicated that the matter would be communicated to the ICC, given the sensitive nature of government involvement in cricket administration.
That now makes the ICC’s response crucial in determining whether the Tamim-led committee will be accepted internationally or whether Bangladesh cricket could face scrutiny over governance interference.
Bulbul, in his statement, urged the global governing body to step in immediately.
“We call upon the ICC to intervene immediately to protect the sanctity of our elected board,” he said.
He also insisted that he remains the “only legitimate president of the BCB” unless a court rules otherwise.
Bulbul’s response has now set the stage for what could become a major legal and constitutional battle over control of Bangladesh cricket.
