Discontent continues to grow over the newly formed committee of the Women’s Sports Association. On Sunday, former female athletes staged a human chain protest in front of the National Sports Council (NSC), demanding the immediate dissolution of the committee. They also urged that grassroots-level elections be held before implementing the NSC’s announced plans to organise elections in various national sports federations.
Earlier, following the committee’s announcement, several former women athletes had expressed their opposition at a press conference held at the Mohammedan Sporting Club. The protest in front of the NSC saw not only former female players but also other renowned athletes such as former footballer Mohammad Sujon and ex-table tennis player Enayet Hossain Maruf joining in solidarity. Protesters once again demanded the cancellation of the committee, warning that they would announce a series of tougher programmes if their call was ignored.
During the human chain, the former athletes also discussed the NSC’s new directive to conduct elections in sports federations. Enayet Hossain Maruf, a former table tennis player and sports organiser, voiced serious doubts about the NSC’s sudden announcement. He remarked,
“Just as there are ad hoc committees in the federations, the same exists at the district and divisional levels. There is no clear guideline about who will vote or how the elections will be held. Such elections cannot be considered legitimate.”
The directive has also created uncertainty among officials of different federations regarding its execution. Many national sports federations struggle even to form their general councils due to ongoing disputes surrounding ad hoc committees at the grassroots level. These unresolved issues have paralysed sporting activities in many districts.
For instance, in Narayanganj, there are allegations that the district sports association’s acting general secretary is absent, while another person signs official documents in his name. Such irregularities have sparked frustration among local sports organisers. Many fear that holding elections in this situation will only complicate matters further.
Former shooter Sabrina Sultana commented on the issue, saying,
“Everywhere, from districts to divisions, ad hoc committees are in place. Without holding proper grassroots elections first, conducting elections in the federations is inappropriate. These elections should only take place after the upcoming national elections.”
The NSC’s executive director, Kazi Nazrul Islam, acknowledged that the authorities are aware of the discontent surrounding the Women’s Sports Association committee. When asked about the situation, he stated,
“Our honourable adviser is aware of the issue and is considering the matter carefully.”
He further added,
“We have already instructed that elections be organised as soon as possible. The current ad hoc committees will hand over power to the newly elected bodies once the elections are completed.”
This ongoing tension underscores the growing demand among athletes and sports organisers for greater transparency, accountability, and fair representation in Bangladesh’s sports administration system.