“One-year ban following dismissal for the country’s top shooter, Kali”

Kamrunnahar Kali, one of Bangladesh’s top national shooters, has been handed a one-year ban following a period of temporary suspension earlier this year. The Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation (BSSF) initially suspended Kali on 1 January, citing alleged violations of the national team’s camp code of conduct. Now, after further review, the federation has decided to extend the disciplinary action to a full year.

The decision was formally communicated on Tuesday to Kali’s employer, the Bangladesh Navy, via an official letter from the federation. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) was also notified of the ban, signalling its recognition at the highest levels of national sports governance.

In a letter signed by BSSF Secretary General Ferdous Ara Khanom, the federation detailed the reasons for the ban. It stated that during the federation’s sixth executive committee meeting on 2 February, Kali was found to have violated seven clauses of the training camp’s code of conduct. The letter further highlighted an incident on 25 January at the BSSF office, in which Kali allegedly displayed extremely disrespectful, threatening, and aggressive behaviour towards the Secretary General, executive committee members, officers, and staff in the presence of police officers conducting a federation investigation.

The letter noted that Kali’s actions “seriously undermined the federation’s discipline, security, and institutional integrity, and contributed to a deterioration in overall law and order.” Consequently, under Articles 16.20 and 16.21 of the federation’s constitution, Kali has been officially barred from participating in shooting activities for one year.

The controversy surrounding Kali is rooted in earlier public allegations she made against the federation’s Joint Secretary, GM Haider, accusing him of misconduct and sexual harassment. Several other shooters had also spoken out on these issues. However, the federation’s official notice of suspension and subsequent ban made no reference to these claims, focusing solely on her conduct within the national training camp and at the federation office.

This decision has sparked debate within Bangladesh’s shooting community and sports circles, with opinions divided between supporting the federation’s disciplinary measures and raising concerns over whether whistleblowers are being unfairly penalised.

Key Details of Kamrunnahar Kali’s Disciplinary Action

The federation has reiterated its commitment to upholding discipline and institutional order, while Kali’s supporters continue to call for a fair and transparent investigation into her allegations of misconduct.