Half of the national sporting federations and associations are at present being run by ad-hoc committees, giving a strong impression that they are going back to the culture of interim administrations.
After assuming power in 1996, the then Awami League government broke the tradition of ad-hocism in the sports arena to set examples at the different federations through holding elections, a way to bring democracy to the national organizations. The same party have returned to power after seven years and although they have spent almost two years, they haven't yet taken any initiatives to bring back a sense of accountability to these sporting bodies, as 21 out of the 41 federations and associations are at present being run by ad-hoc committees.
Following the end of different federation tenures, the National Sport Council, sports' regulatory body in the country, has formed ad-hoc committees to run tennis, kabaddi, wrestling, wushu, badminton, gymnastic, chess, cycling, rowing, bodybuilding, carom, kho kho and handball. Apart from the mainstream disciplines, squash, fencing, billiard, bridge, rugby, kites, marshal arts and baseball are also being conducted by interim committees for years, considering less activities of those federations and associations.
Besides, taekwondo and karate are on the verge of getting ad-hoc committees as both federations already have expired tenures while federations like cricket, football, hockey, shooting, swimming, athletic, weightlifting, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and boxing are being managed by the elected committees. Organisers, though, have often criticised that those elected bodies came into power through interference from certain quarters during the caretaker government.
In its circulations, the NSC had asked the ad-hoc committees to take proper initiatives to hold elections immediately, though the NSC themselves ignored the election initiatives taken by a couple of elected committees earlier.
According to the statements from former general secretaries of Bangladesh Badminton Federation and Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, both federations completed all their tasks in a bid to hold elections, but the NSC had formed ad-hoc committees rather than revealing the election schedule.
"Of 78 councilors, some 42 appealed to NSC to hold an election but they haven't responded. Still we are waiting for their response, but it seems to us that there is no chance of holding election though the sports minister told us that he would look into the matter," said former general secretary of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation Nazrul Islam.
"Though we took all initiatives to hold the election, the NSC delayed the process citing the SA Games at home early this year and finally they revealed an ad-hoc committee," said former general secretary of Bangladesh Badminton Federation Jobaidur Rahman Rana, adding that all ad-hoc committees after three months are illegal.
Both Rana and Nazrul slammed the NSC for not mentioning the timeframe of the ad-hoc committees and those committees have been unnecessary taken time to hold elections.
General secretaries of ad-hoc committees of different federations are also not against holding polls and they are waiting for the green signal from the government. And they want to amend their respective federations' constitutions to ensure the inclusion of the real organisers in the elected committees.
"We are yet to get any signal and I think the elections of all federations will be held simultaneously," said Mokaddesh Ali, who was appointed ad-hoc committee's general secretary of the chess federation last September.
He also said that they have only formed a committee in a bid to amend the constitution.
"We feel no pressure to hold the election as we have been not asked to do so," said Monir Hossain, who was made general secretary of the kabaddi federation last December. "You can't be sure of democracy in the committee if it is elected through poll," he added.
"There is weakness in sports-related laws and I think the government should first modify those. But there is no alternative to elections though both of ad-hoc and elected committees consist of all kinds of bad and good organisers," said Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, who was retained as ad-hoc committee general secretary of the handball federation last month.
"Obviously, I also want the election but not a faulty election. We will take steps in line with NSC's directions," said tennis federation's ad-hoc committee general secretary Istiaque Ahmed Curren.
When contacted, NSC secretary Shafique Anwar declined to comment anything regarding the election, saying that he is in training for two weeks outside the office.
According to the organisers' different versions, it is clear that they are worried over influence of the district organisers during elections and urged the government to develop a unique constitution like the one followed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) where the posts for district organisers and club organisers are defined.
It has been learnt but no one could confirm that the government would hold election for the national federations once they reform the committees at the District Sports Associations.
-Daily Star
Rain ruins Tigers' preps match
Rain played foul with the Tigers as the first preparation match was stopped only after nine overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
The players, split into two groups, were taking part in the match before heavy rain stopped play but the players later practiced in the central wicket.
Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was absent yesterday for a family commitment. The cricketers will be back to business on Sunday after a two -day break.
A total of 26 cricketers have been selected for the upcoming five-match home series against New Zealand who are now practicing under Jamie Siddons.
New Zealand is likely to arrive in the capital on September 29.
-Daily Star
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