Shocking claims of sexual harassment have emerged from former Bangladesh women’s cricket captain Jahanara Alam. The experienced fast bowler, currently residing in Australia following a break from the national team for mental health reasons, has accused members of the team’s management of making indecent proposals during the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. Specifically, she has named former Bangladesh pacer Manjurul Islam, who served as the women’s team selector and manager, alleging he attempted to leverage his position for personal gain and subjected her to unwanted advances.
Alam asserts that Manjurul Islam’s alleged misconduct escalated after she refused his advances, leading to her professional growth being stifled. She also brought forth allegations against the late Towhid Mahmud, claiming he made advances through BCB employee Sarfaraz Babu. Furthermore, Alam stated that Nadel Chowdhury, the head of the women’s committee at the time, was unable to curb the harassment, and that BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury failed to take action despite being aware of the issues.
In an interview on The Riasat Azim YouTube channel, Jahanara Alam shared that she endured these experiences on multiple occasions. She explained that her silence was driven by the fear of losing her livelihood and cricketing career. “When it comes to your livelihood, you are known by many people, and you can’t protest many things,” she revealed. At 31, Alam now hopes her disclosures will protect aspiring female cricketers from facing similar exploitation. “I will speak so that maybe 10 more girls will want to return safely,” she declared.
The first alleged incident, according to Alam, took place in 2021, involving Towhid Mahmud conveying a proposal via Sarfaraz Babu. Alam claims she pretended not to comprehend the suggestion, which she believes triggered a negative shift in Manjurul Islam’s demeanor, resulting in humiliation and mistreatment. She subsequently submitted an “Observation Letter” to the BCB CEO, detailing the incidents without framing it as a formal complaint.
During the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Alam recounts another proposal from Manjurul Islam, which involved inappropriate physical contact and comments regarding her menstrual cycle. She vividly described him approaching her, touching her shoulder, and speaking provocatively near her ear, creating a climate of fear. Alam detailed his intrusive questions about her period, implying its duration was abnormal and inquiring about its end. She consistently deflected these remarks by claiming ignorance.
When approached for comment, Manjurul Islam denied all allegations, labeling them as unfounded. Sarfaraz Babu also refuted the claims, questioning the lack of evidence and expressing regret that a deceased person was being implicated. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and stated that an investigation will be considered if necessary.