A former captain of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, Jahanara Alam, has leveled serious accusations against national team management, alleging a pattern of harassment and unwelcome advances, particularly during the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. Alam, who has taken a break from international cricket and is currently based in Australia for her mental well-being, specifically named Manjurul Islam, a former Bangladesh player who served as a women’s team selector and manager. She claims Islam attempted to exploit her position in exchange for career opportunities and retaliated when she rejected his advances.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Alam alleged that the late Towhid Mahmud also made advances towards her, reportedly facilitated by BCB employee Sarfaraz Babu. She further stated that the then-chairperson of the women’s committee, Nadel Chowdhury, was unable to prevent the alleged harassment, and that the BCB CEO, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, failed to act despite being informed. Alam described her fear of retribution as the primary reason for her delayed public statement.
Speaking on a YouTube platform, Jahanara Alam disclosed that she encountered such situations “several times.” She explained the difficulty of speaking out when one’s career and reputation are at stake. “When it comes to your livelihood, you are known by many people, and you can’t protest many things,” she stated. The 31-year-old cricketer expressed her motivation for coming forward: to ensure that future female players are protected from similar experiences. “I will speak so that maybe 10 more girls will want to return safely,” she emphasized.
The first alleged incident reportedly occurred in 2021, with Towhid Mahmud purportedly making an indirect proposal through Sarfaraz Babu. Alam claims she avoided the situation by feigning a lack of understanding, which she believes led to Manjurul Islam’s subsequent alleged mistreatment and humiliation. She documented these occurrences in an “Observation Letter” submitted to the BCB CEO, though she refrained from classifying it as a formal complaint.
During the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, Alam alleges that Manjurul Islam made inappropriate physical advances and sexually suggestive comments. She described his unsettling habit of approaching female players closely, touching their shoulders, and speaking in their ears. Alam recounted specific, intrusive questions about her menstrual cycle, suggesting it was unusually long and demanding she inform him when it ended so he could “look after his side.” She consistently responded by professing not to understand his comments.
Manjurul Islam has denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and inviting others to vouch for his character. Sarfaraz Babu also rejected the claims, calling them unfortunate and demanding proof while lamenting the involvement of a deceased person. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and is considering whether an investigation is warranted.
