Bangladesh: Minister's word goes down the drain (30 Aug 1998)
Despite a commitment by the sports minister that clause 20A of the National Sports Council (NSC) Act will not be applied, within three months of federation elections under it, the NSC has exercised its authority
30-Aug-1998
30 August 1998
Minister's word goes down the drain
Sports Reporter
Ghost of the black law casts its l-o-n-g shadow
Despite a commitment by the sports minister that clause 20A of the
National Sports Council (NSC) Act will not be applied, within three
months of federation elections under it, the NSC has exercised its
authority. Before the elections, the minister Obaidul Quader promised
to sports organisers that he, as NSC chairman, will not exercise the
power vested on him.
The said clause is perhaps the most unpopular aspect of the NSC Act
because it allows the NSC to dismiss and/or reconstitute any
federation.
According to the constitution (draft) of the Bangladesh Cricket Board
(BCB), its executive committee will consist of an NSC-appointed
president, twenty-nine elected members and one member nominated by the
NSC, making it a thirty-one member committee.
Today that committee consists of thirty-two members, thanks to NSC
violating the minister's word of honour. On August 20 the NSC
appointed former national captain and star cricketer Roquibul Hasan as
the thirty-second member of the BCB executive committee.
While one may agree that Mr. Hasan, more than anyone else, deserves a
position in the board, the manner in which his appointment was
executed leaves much to be desired. Although it is not a breach of
Jeffersonian practice as such, the very breaking of 'a gentleman's
agreement', that too by a minister, may have far-reaching adverse
effects on the future democratisation of sports in the country.
Mr. Quader was lauded by all quarters for holding elections, limited
though it was, in sports federations. Hundreds of enthusiastic sports
organisers from all over the country tasted the first-ever flavour of
democracy in the sports arena. It was a breath of fresh air.
Although Roquibul's recent appointment has been termed by high-ups in
the NSC as 'an exceptional case', sports fans fear that the ghost of
the black law has made its debut. More may obviously follow.
Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)