Ministry dismisses heads of 42 sports bodies

Since the change of government, a wave of changes has swept across various sectors in the country, including the sports arena. Previously, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had removed the heads of three federations and ordered the dissolution of all divisional, district, and women's sports associations to form ad-hoc committees. Now, 42 presidents of federations and sports associations have been dismissed at once.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports announced the decision in a press release on Tuesday. This step was taken under the orders of President Mohammad Shahabuddin.

In the press release, signed by the Assistant Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC), S.M. Humayun Kabir, it was stated, "Under the powers granted by Section 22 of the National Sports Council Act, 2018, the government hereby relieves the presidents of the following federations/associations/boards of their duties to further activate and reform the operations of the existing federations/associations/boards."

The federations whose presidents have been relieved include Bangladesh Badminton Federation, Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation, Bangladesh Handball Federation, Bangladesh Judo Federation, Bangladesh Karate Federation, Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation, Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation, Bangladesh Gymnastics Federation, Bangladesh Basketball Federation, Bangladesh Archery Federation, Bangladesh Women's Sports Association, Bangladesh Amateur Boxing Federation, Bangladesh Deaf Sports Federation, Bangladesh Bashaap Association, Bangladesh Rugby Federation, Bangladesh Fencing Federation, Bangladesh Baseball Softball Association, National Paralympic Committee of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Surfing Association, Bangladesh Mountaineering Association, Bangladesh Tchoukball Association, Bangladesh Sepak Takraw Association, Bangladesh Jujitsu Association, Bangladesh Para Archery Association, Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation, Bangladesh Wushu Federation, Bangladesh Carrom Federation, Bangladesh Cycling Federation, Bangladesh Tennis Federation, Bangladesh Amateur Wrestling Federation, Bangladesh Roller Skating Federation, Bangladesh Country Games Association, Bangladesh Proball Association, Bangladesh Volleyball Federation, Bangladesh Squash Racquets Federation, Bangladesh Rowing Federation, Bangladesh International Taekwondo Association, Bangladesh Kite Association, Bangladesh Athletics Federation, Bangladesh Kyokushin Karate Association, Bangladesh Kho Kho Federation, and Bangladesh Martial Arts Confederation.

Previously, the Ministry of Sports had also removed the presidents of the Bangladesh Chess, Kabaddi, and Bridge Federations. The president of the Chess Federation was former Police Inspector General Benazir Ahmed, while the president of the Kabaddi Federation was former Police Director General Abdullah Al Mamun. Both were removed. Kabaddi Federation's General Secretary, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, was elected, so instead of being directly removed by the ministry, he was dismissed through the National Sports Council Act.

Additionally, changes have come to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as well. One of the two NSC-nominated BCB directors resigned, and the other was removed. Two new directors have taken their places, one of whom was elected as the BCB president. Following this, two more BCB directors have resigned.