I've fallen in love with the development of Bangladesh cricket: Bulbul

After being re-elected as the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Aminul Islam Bulbul admitted he decided to stay on BCB after "falling in love with Bangladesh cricket's development." Former national cricketer Aminul Islam Bulbul has been elected unopposed as the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and will lead the newly formed 25-member board of directors for the next four years.

Chief Election Commissioner MohammodHossain announced the result on Monday evening, confirming that no other candidate submitted nomination papers for the president post. Similarly there were no contestants for the two vice-president posts also.

From Category-1, Shakhwat Hossain, a director from Barishal Division was elected vice-president while Faruque Ahmed, who was elected director from club category was the other vice-president.

"I've taken this as part of a journey. I've also fallen in love with the development of Bangladesh cricket. Initially, I came in for a short time, that was always the plan. But when I started achieving small successes through what I call my 'triple century', I couldn't resist the temptation to continue. That's why I've stayed on, to keep serving the country with that same purpose." Bulbul said after being elected as BCB president. "The main job is to take the cricket forward. As I said earlier, we want to spread the cricket to grassroots level, this is now high time. We will plan for the next four years. Hopefully we will be successful."

Earlier, Bulbul along with NazmulAbedeenFahimwere elected from Dhaka Division in Category-1 (Districts and Divisions) after the board of directors' elction, also held today at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka. From Category-1 Mukhlesur Rahman was elected from Rajshahi Division, obtaining 8 votes while Hasanuzzaman was elected from Rangpur Division with 7 votes. Shahadat Sajal, a competitor of Hasanuzzman got just 1 vote.

Unopposed candidates from the Category-1 included AhsanIqbal Chowdhury and Asif Akbar from Chattogram, AbdurRazzak and Julfiqar Ali Khan from Khulna, Rahat Shams from Sylhet, and ShakhawatHossain from Barishal.

Meanwhile, IshfaqAhsan was appointed as a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) under the National Sports Council (NSC) quota. However, just a few hours later, the NSC removed him from the position.

Within hours, the NSC decided to remove Ishfaq, reportedly due to his "controversial past" and political affiliations with the ruling Awami League government. The council has not yet announced his replacement. Faruque Ahmed, a former BCB preisdentwas elected with ease from the Category-2 (Dhaka Metropolis Clubs) by obtaining 42 votes.

Iftekhar Rahman Mithu and Manzur Alam, who were in the previous board came to the BCB once again after getting 34 and 39 votes respectively from the club category.

IshtiaqueSadeque (42), Adnan RahmanDipon (40), FayazurRahman (42), AbulBashar (40), AmzadHossain (40), ShahnianTaneem (42), Mokhsedul Kamal (41), M Nazmul Islam (37) and Mehrab Alam Chowdhury (41) were the other nine directors who get elected from the club category.

 
In Category-3, former Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mashud Pilot got a landslide victory by defeating Jahangirnagar University councillorDebabrata Paul by 35-7 votes to get elected.

The BCB election, held on Monday as per schedule, took place amid controversy and allegations of government interference, which led to the withdrawal of 21 director candidates, including former national captain TamimIqbal.