Former Bangladesh girls’s crew captain Jahanara Alam has come ahead with stunning allegations, claiming that she confronted indecent proposals from members of the nationwide crew administration in the course of the 2022 ICC Ladies’s World Cup. The veteran pacer, who’s at the moment dwelling in Australia after stepping away from the nationwide setup for psychological well being causes, accused former Bangladesh pacer Manjurul Islam, who served as girls’s crew selector and supervisor, of making an attempt to take advantage of her place in trade for alternatives.
In accordance with Jahanara, Manjurul allegedly prevented her from performing and rising within the nationwide setup after she refused to just accept his advances.
She additional alleged that the late Towhid Mahmud additionally tried to method her by way of BCB worker Sarfaraz Babu. She added that then girls’s committee head Nadel Chowdhury was unable to cease the harassment, whereas Bangladesh Cricket Board CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury didn’t act even after being knowledgeable.
“I Confronted It A number of Occasions” – Jahanara Opens Up
Talking on The Riasat Azim YouTube channel, Jahanara mentioned she endured repeated incidents and felt unable to talk out earlier attributable to worry of dropping her cricketing profession.
“I confronted a number of instances (indecent proposal) not as soon as. Positively, once we are concerned with the crew, we can not communicate out about many issues, even when we wish to. In relation to your bread and higher, when you find yourself identified by a couple of individuals, you can’t say or protest many issues even if you wish to.”
The 31-year-old mentioned she determined to talk now so future gamers don’t face related conditions.
“Look, in the end cricket is my household, and I’ll undoubtedly communicate. I’ll communicate in order that possibly 10 extra women will wish to return safely, simply as I survived and returned.”
The First Alleged Incident
Jahanara claimed that the primary occasion occurred in 2021, when Touhid Mahmud allegedly conveyed an oblique proposal by way of Sarfaraz Babu.
She mentioned she refused and tried to keep away from the state of affairs by pretending to not perceive the suggestion. Nonetheless, she mentioned this led to a change in conduct from Manjurul, who allegedly started to humiliate and mistreat her.
“That is how Manju Bhai’s unhealthy conduct began,” she mentioned.
She later submitted what she known as an “Statement Letter” to the BCB CEO, documenting the cases, although she averted calling it a proper criticism.
Alleged Incident In the course of the 2022 World Cup
Jahanara claimed {that a} second proposal got here from Manjurul in the course of the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand. She described uncomfortable bodily contact and feedback about her menstrual cycle.
“He got here close to my shoulder. And his behavior is that he grabs any woman’s shoulder… He used to bend down close to the ear after which discuss… we was once scared about this behind the scenes.”
She alleged that Manjurul approached her throughout coaching and made invasive feedback:
“What number of days is your interval working at present?”
“5 days? Does anybody keep like this? Yours ought to have ended a day earlier… When your interval is over, inform me, as a result of I’ve to take care of my facet too, proper?”
In accordance with Jahanara, she continued to keep away from partaking with these remarks by responding, “Sorry, Bhaiya, I did not perceive.”
Accused Officers Reply
When contacted by Cricbuzz, Manjurul Islam denied the allegations.
“What can I say other than terming it as baseless… You’ll be able to ask different cricketers whether or not I used to be good or unhealthy.”
Sarfaraz Babu additionally rejected the claims:
“It is unlucky she is dragging a useless man. I simply need her to give you proof as a substitute of creating baseless accusations.”
BCB Considers Investigation
The Bangladesh Cricket Board acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.
BCB vice-chairman Shakhawat Hossain mentioned:
“The allegations are fairly severe and so we now have to sit down and resolve what needs to be our subsequent plan of action and if required we will definitely have an investigation.”