Former Bangladesh captain Minhajul Abedin is set to become a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the final list of candidates for the upcoming BCB election was officially published on Monday.
Minhajul will enter the board as a Category 1 director representing the Chattogram division after candidate Shariful Islam withdrew his nomination during the withdrawal phase.
With only two candidates now remaining for the two available director posts from Chattogram — Minhajul and Moin Uddin Chowdhury — both are set to be elected unopposed ahead of the June 7 election.
The development marks another major step in Minhajul’s long association with Bangladesh cricket, both on and off the field.
From National Captain to Cricket Administrator
Minhajul Abedin remains one of the most respected figures in Bangladesh cricket history.
After representing Bangladesh national cricket team during his playing career, he transitioned smoothly into cricket administration and team management following retirement.
Over the years, Minhajul served in multiple roles within the BCB setup, most notably as a selector and later as chief selector. He spent more than a decade involved with Bangladesh’s national selection panel and played a significant role in shaping several generations of cricketers.
He is also currently part of the board’s ad-hoc committee.
His elevation to the director’s role therefore appears to be a natural progression after years of contribution behind the scenes.
Minhajul Wants to Revive Chattogram Cricket
Speaking after confirmation of his unopposed election pathway, Minhajul acknowledged the increased responsibility that comes with joining the BCB board officially as a director.
He also emphasised his desire to improve cricket infrastructure and development in the Chattogram region.
According to Minhajul, regional cricket in Bangladesh first gained momentum in Chattogram, and he hopes to help revive that structure once again.
Chattogram has historically produced several important cricketers for Bangladesh and remains one of the country’s major cricketing centres. However, regional cricket structures in different parts of Bangladesh have often faced organisational and developmental challenges over the years.
Minhajul’s experience as a former player, selector and administrator could make him an influential figure in addressing those issues.
Limited Contests in Upcoming BCB Election
The final candidates’ list released by the BCB Election Commission confirmed that only a few positions will now see contests during the election scheduled on June 7.
Under Category 1, competitive elections will take place only in:
- Khulna division
- Barishal division
In the Khulna division, three candidates:
- Shafiqul Alam
- Shantanu Islam
- Mohammad Abdus Salam
will compete for two director seats.
Meanwhile, the Barishal division will feature a direct contest between:
- Muntasir Alam Chowdhury
- Mizanur Rahman
for a single director position.
Several other divisions already have unopposed representatives confirmed.
Unopposed Representatives From Other Regions
The earlier nomination list had already established multiple uncontested winners from different divisions.
These include:
- Syed Bin Osman
- S M Abdullah Al Fuad
representing Dhaka division.
Meanwhile:
- Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury represents Sylhet
- Mirza Masud Amin represents Rangpur
- Mir Shakrul Alam Simanto represents Rajshahi
In Category 3, Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir was also elected unopposed as the lone candidate.
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Strong Competition in Dhaka Club Category
The most competitive section of the election remains Category 2, which represents Dhaka clubs.
Two additional withdrawals ahead of the final candidate announcement reduced the field slightly:
- Lutfur Rahman
- Mahmudur Rahman
both pulled out of the race.
As a result, 16 candidates remain in contention for 12 director positions from the Dhaka club category.
Among the prominent names contesting are former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and representatives from several well-known Dhaka cricket clubs.
The remaining candidates include:
- Fahim Sinha
- Masuduzzaman
- Asif Rabbani
- Fayzur Rahman
- Yasir Mohammad Faisal Ashik
- Amzad Hossain
- Mirza Yasir Abbas
- Israfil Khusro
- Rafiqul Islam Babu
- Sarkar Mahbub Ahmed Shahin
- Shanian Taneem Navin
- Borhanul Islam
- Shafiq Ahmed Salam
- Imrose Ahmed
The Dhaka club category traditionally carries major influence within BCB politics because of the strong role club cricket plays in Bangladesh’s domestic structure.
Structure of the BCB Board
The Bangladesh Cricket Board consists of a 25-member structure.
The board composition includes:
- 12 directors elected by Dhaka club councillors (Category 2)
- 10 directors elected from regional and district councillors (Category 1)
- 1 director representing organisations including universities and former cricketers (Category 3)
- 2 directors nominated by the National Sports Council
Once the election process concludes, the elected directors will choose the next BCB president.
That decision is expected to shape the future direction of Bangladesh cricket administration over the coming years.
Significant Role Ahead for Minhajul
For Minhajul Abedin, becoming a BCB director represents more than just a personal achievement.
Having experienced Bangladesh cricket from nearly every angle — player, captain, selector and administrator — he now enters a position where he can directly influence policy, development strategies and structural planning.
His strong cricketing background and long administrative experience could make him an important voice within the boardroom, particularly regarding talent identification and regional cricket development.
At a time when Bangladesh cricket continues searching for greater consistency at the international level, experienced figures like Minhajul are expected to play a key role in shaping the sport’s next phase in the country.