Disturbing allegations of harassment by national team management have been made by former Bangladesh women’s cricket captain Jahanara Alam. The veteran pace bowler, who is currently living in Australia after stepping away from the team for mental health reasons, claims she faced indecent proposals from officials during the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. Alam specifically accused Manjurul Islam, a former player who served as selector and manager for the women’s team, of attempting to exploit her position and retaliating when she refused his advances.
Alam further alleges that the late Towhid Mahmud attempted to approach her through BCB employee Sarfaraz Babu. She also stated that Nadel Chowdhury, who headed the women’s committee at the time, was unable to prevent the alleged harassment, and that BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury did not take action even after being made aware of the situation. Alam shared her fear of career repercussions as the reason for her initial silence.
In an interview on The Riasat Azim YouTube channel, Jahanara Alam stated that she endured such experiences “several times.” She explained the pressure faced by players, where speaking out against misconduct could jeopardize their careers. “When it comes to your livelihood, you are known by many people, and you can’t protest many things,” she elaborated. The 31-year-old aims for her testimony to create a safer environment for future generations of female cricketers. “I will speak so that maybe 10 more girls will want to return safely,” she declared.
The first alleged incident, according to Alam, occurred in 2021 when Towhid Mahmud supposedly conveyed an indirect proposal through Sarfaraz Babu. Alam claims she avoided the situation by pretending not to understand, which she believes resulted in Manjurul Islam’s subsequent alleged mistreatment and humiliation. She later submitted an “Observation Letter” to the BCB CEO, documenting these incidents.
During the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Alam alleges Manjurul Islam made further advances, including inappropriate physical contact and comments about her menstrual cycle. She described his habit of approaching female players closely, touching their shoulders, and speaking near their ears. Alam recounted his intrusive questions regarding her period, suggesting it was unduly long and asking her to notify him when it ended. She consistently responded by claiming she did not understand his remarks.
Manjurul Islam has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. Sarfaraz Babu also refuted the claims, lamenting the mention of a deceased person and calling for proof. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and is considering an investigation.