BCB can amend constitution: SC

Nazmul hails verdict

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) welcomed Supreme Court’s verdict on its constitution, stating it as the landmark ruling that will be good for country’s cricket.

In a verdict, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) could amend its constitution.

The three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha also ruled that National Sports Council has no right to amend BCB’s constitution.

The apex court came up with the decision disposing of two appeals filed by BCB and NSC challenging a High Court verdict that had declared the amendments brought to BCB’s constitution by NSC on November 29, 2012, illegal.

“It’s difficult to say anything concrete regarding the ruling at this moment. We have not received any copies on the ruling yet. As far as I’ve heard, I feel that the ruling is very good for Bangladesh cricket,” said BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon in his immediate reaction.

“Now if we need to make changes to the constitution, we can do it ourselves by convening an EGM. This is a defining decision. It will be good for cricket,” he added.

AM Amin Uddin, Barrister Mahbub Shafik and Advocate KM Hafizul Alam stood for the petitioners while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh argued for the NSC and BCB.

On January 27, 2013, the High Court gave the verdict after hearing a writ petition jointly filed by Comilla District Sports Association’s general secretary Yousuf Jamil Babu, challenging the legality of amending BCB constitution by NSC.   

Lawyers of NSC and BCB told reporters that following the apex court verdict the present elected committee of the BCB would now convene an EGM to amend its constitution following the procedure stated in section 26 of the 2008 constitution.

However, they opined that the Supreme Court in its full judgment will give some directives and observations about the authority of the BCB and the NSC and how the constitution would be amended.

“From what I have understood, that no one can intervene now. Besides, there is no problem with the constitution. What is newly added that if there is any requirement of changing the constitution, we can do it without any interference from the outside,” Papon said.

The councilors who exercised their vote to elect the present committee were selected in the light of the present constitution. Asked if they can join the EGM, Papon said, “There is no other option because we have been elected according to the current constitution.”

Papon however clarified as to why the verdict came as good for Bangladesh Cricket : “If they win, that means we have to organize an election according to that condition which didn’t give any permission to the cricket players to come to the board. Whereas players from other sports could come to the board and it’s the thing the ICC would never accept. If ICC objects, we can nothing to do. So the verdict is good for the cricket.”

BCB can amend constitution: SC

Nazmul hails verdict

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) welcomed Supreme Courts verdict on its constitution, stating it as the landmark ruling that will be good for countrys cricket. In a verdict, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) could amend its constitution. The three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha also ruled that National Sports Council has no right to amend BCBs constitution. The apex court came up with the decision disposing of two appeals filed by BCB and NSC challenging a High Court verdict that had declared the amendments brought to BCBs constitution by NSC on November 29, 2012, illegal. Its difficult to say anything concrete regarding the ruling at this moment. We have not received any copies on the ruling yet. As far as Ive heard, I feel that the ruling is very good for Bangladesh cricket, said BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon in his immediate reaction. Now if we need to make changes to the constitution, we can do it ourselves by convening an EGM. This is a defining decision. It will be good for cricket, he added. AM Amin Uddin, Barrister Mahbub Shafik and Advocate KM Hafizul Alam stood for the petitioners while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh argued for the NSC and BCB. On January 27, 2013, the High Court gave the verdict after hearing a writ petition jointly filed by Comilla District Sports Associations general secretary Yousuf Jamil Babu, challenging the legality of amending BCB constitution by NSC. Lawyers of NSC and BCB told reporters that following the apex court verdict the present elected committee of the BCB would now convene an EGM to amend its constitution following the procedure stated in section 26 of the 2008 constitution. However, they opined that the Supreme Court in its full judgment will give some directives and observations about the authority of the BCB and the NSC and how the constitution would be amended. From what I have understood, that no one can intervene now. Besides, there is no problem with the constitution. What is newly added that if there is any requirement of changing the constitution, we can do it without any interference from the outside, Papon said. The councilors who exercised their vote to elect the present committee were selected in the light of the present constitution. Asked if they can join the EGM, Papon said, There is no other option because we have been elected according to the current constitution. Papon however clarified as to why the verdict came as good for Bangladesh Cricket : If they win, that means we have to organize an election according to that condition which didnt give any permission to the cricket players to come to the board. Whereas players from other sports could come to the board and its the thing the ICC would never accept. If ICC objects, we can nothing to do. So the verdict is good for the cricket.