BPL corruption hearing set to begin

Bangladesh's anti-corruption tribunal's preliminary hearing to look into allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League will begin on November 24. Justice Mohammad Abdur Rashid, chairman of BCB's disciplinary panel, has appointed three members to conduct the hearing.

Former Supreme Court judge Khademul Islam Chowdhury will convene the panel that includes Ajmalul Hossain QC and former cricketer Shakil Kasem. Rashid won't be present during these hearings, but he will be available if someone appeals against punishment.

"We formed the tribunal because the ICC sent us some information," Rashid told the Dhaka-based Prothom Alo. "The tribunal members have called the accused for a preliminary hearing. It [the decision to conduct full hearing] will only be understood after the hearing."

According to clause 5.1.3 of the BCB's anti-corruption code, "the convener of the anti-corruption tribunal may convene a preliminary hearing with the designated anti-corruption official together with the relevant participant. If a preliminary hearing is to be convened, it should take place as soon as reasonably practicable and be by telephone conference call (unless the convener determines otherwise).

"The ICC will be notified and invited to participate in any such preliminary hearing. The non-participation, without compelling justification, of the participant after proper notice of the preliminary hearing has been provided, shall not prevent the convener of the anti-corruption tribunal from proceeding with any such preliminary hearing whether or not any written submissions are made on behalf of the participant."