Bangladesh Cricket Board set to form independent complaint committee for women cricketers

An Independent Complaint Committee dedicated to women cricketers is expected to be constituted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board within the coming days. The decision to pursue this body emerged from a working committee session convened on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where all 11 members of that committee agreed that the mechanism needed to be put in place promptly.

Official confirmation came on November 2, 2026. A BCB representative indicated that the proposal had cleared the working committee stage but still requires ratification at a full board meeting before the committee can formally come into existence.

“Yes, the matter (formation of an Independent Complaint Committee) was raised during the last working committee meeting, and we agreed that we need to form it,” the representative told Cricbuzz.

The administrative push traces back to November 2025, when Bangladesh women’s cricketer Jahanara Alam alleged sexual assault by a member of the team management. The BCB responded by constituting an inquiry committee to examine those allegations.

What does the proposed independent committee change?

Simultaneously with the inquiry into the allegations, the BCB announced a separate BCB Complaint Committee in 2025, formed in accordance with a High Court Division judgement dating to 2009. Rubaba Dowla, who holds the position of BCB Director and serves as Chairperson of the Women’s Wing Committee, headed that initial body. The initial Complaint Committee was charged with rolling out mandatory awareness training and laying the foundation for a more independent grievance structure.

However, the proposed new body is designed to go further. Rather than being led by a sitting board director, the Independent Complaint Committee is expected to draw its membership from outside the BCB’s existing administrative structure, departing from the arrangement under which Rubaba Dowla chaired the earlier panel.

“We want to bring people from outside for the committee, as it will ensure that if a woman cricketer files a complaint against anyone, we have a free and fair investigation,” the representative said.

Bringing in external members is intended to eliminate any perception of internal bias and to give women cricketers greater confidence that grievances will be examined without interference from within the board.

What is the next confirmed procedural step?

The October 28 working committee session produced a consensus in favour of forming the Independent Complaint Committee, but consensus at that level does not constitute formal approval. The proposal must be placed before a full BCB board meeting and passed there before the committee can be constituted. No date for that board meeting has been publicly announced. The Independent Complaint Committee confirmed.

“It hasn’t been approved yet. I mean, the proposal has been raised, but it hasn’t been approved (as it needs to be tabled at the board meeting),” the representative added.

Until the board meeting takes place and the proposal is ratified, the Independent Complaint Committee remains at the proposal stage and cannot begin any operational work. The BCB has not disclosed a timeline for scheduling that meeting.