Bangladesh crisis: Players' revolt puts BPL in limbo; BCB tries to pacify with action against Najmul
Dhaka (PTI): The crisis-ridden Bangladesh Cricket Board stared at the prospect of its flagship T20 league coming to a halt after senior national players revolted against it for not sacking director Najmul Islam for his disparaging comments against them even though the BCB removed him as head of its finance committee.
Despite the removal of Najmul from the key BCB post, two matches of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) scheduled on the day were postponed and the tournament itself looked in disarray due to the players' firm stance.
The cricketers taking part in the BPL were unified in their demand for immediate removal of Najmul as BCB director.
BCB removed Najmul as chairman of the board's finance committee but he remains a Board director, a position that can be taken from him on disciplinary grounds.
"...Following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect," said the BCB in a statement.
"Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee. The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority."
It then pleaded with the players to not halt the BPL.
"BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game...and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)."
The furore started after Najmul, while reiterating Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for next month's T20 World Cup on account of "security worries", rejected concerns surrounding players' remuneration should the country withdraw.
He stated that the players would not be compensated as they have not justified the support so far, having failed to win a single ICC event.
The statement caused an outrage with Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) calling for his immediate ouster from BCB.
The under-pressure showcaused Najmul.
"...the Board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the Board member concerned. A show-cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours," it stated earlier in the day.
Bangladesh are refusing to tour India, citing security concerns after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around".
The BCB is still in talks with the ICC to figure a way out after the world body showed reluctance to shift Bangladesh's four games in India to Sri Lanka.
Najmul had earlier described former captain Tamim Iqbal as an "agent of India" after he called for a restrained handling of the standoff with the neighbouring nation, warning that decisions taken today would have impact 10 years down the line.
The CWAB had condemned that statement from Najmul.
Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has also urged for a pragmatic approach and also revealed that the players are under immense stress due to the current circumstances.
"We have been discussing with the BCB for many issues but didn't get any solution. We are now hopeless. Cricketers are playing the game for pride. We told him to say sorry but he became more desperate. He can't make such comment," CWAB president Mohammad Mithun said in a press conference here that also had Mustafizur in attendance even though he did not speak.
"They are taking long time to solve women's team matters. Without evidence, nine players were omitted from BPL for alleged corruption in BPL.
Senior all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz echoed the sentiment.
"We always say that cricket board is our guardian. But something like this coming from one of them is really disappointing. Cricket board is run by ICC and sponsor incomes. We give the highest tax 25-30 percent."
Shanto and current T20 captain Litton Das too expressed their views on the controversial matter.
"As a player whether its male or female, they need to get paid better. We have good money and the BCB needs to use that properly," said Litton.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ink used for Maharashtra civic polls easy to wipe off, claims Oppn; SEC to conduct probe
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday evening said it would conduct a thorough probe into the quality of the `indelible' ink in marker pens used for the civic polls, after opposition leaders alleged that the mark on a voter's finger could be removed easily, enabling bogus voting.
Amid polling for 29 municipal corporations including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), social media was flooded with videos claiming to demonstrate how the ink could be removed using chemicals such as acetone, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the claims.
Speaking to PTI, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said that in view of the controversy, the SEC will not use marker pens for the coming Zilla Parishad elections but revert to the traditional ink -- produced by Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited, a company of the Karnataka government -- used in assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
"The SEC has decided to conduct a probe.....it will cover not only the ink quality but also the videos which were circulated throughout the day. The probe into videos is to ascertain whether the ink was applied on the finger while voting or in a mischievous way," Waghmare said.
"We will do a random sampling of marker pens used today across the state and verify the quality of the ink supplied to us. The formula for the quality of the ink is finalised by the Election commission of India and a private company supplied the pens to the SEC," the state election commissioner said. "We have been using these pens since 2011 for all local body elections," he added.
Another SEC official said that Kores (India) Ltd had supplied the marker pens, and those were as per the commission's specifications. Three marker pens were provided for each polling booth, he added.
Earlier, following the allegations that the indelible ink applied to voters' fingers came off easily, SEC officials held a press conference.
"The ink takes about 10 to 12 seconds to dry after being applied. During this time the voter is still inside the polling booth. Once it dries, it cannot be removed. This is the same ink used by the Election Commission of India. If double voting takes place, action will be taken against the presiding officer of the polling booth," Waghmare said during the press conference.
Another SEC official said, "Compared to ink, using marker pen is easier and efficient. It was the sole reason behind SEC shifting from ink to marker pen. But after this controversy, we decided to use ink instead of marker pen."
Waghmare also claimed that a fake narrative was being spread, and voters were not supposed to rub off the ink before it dried. "If ink is removed before it dries, it is a voter's fault. A criminal case can also be registered against such voters," he added.
Videos circulating on social media would be investigated and action would be taken against anyone spreading misinformation, said Waghmare, while also blaming voters for confusion over polling booth locations, stating that they should have checked their booth details and names in advance.
Earlier, Mumbai Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad posted a video of her party colleague using acetone to wipe off the ink from his finger.
“BMC wiping off accountability? Since morning we have been receiving several reports of how the marker ink is being wiped off easily. My colleague and his wife here demonstrate how this ink can be easily removed with acetone or nail polish remover,” she posted on X.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray also raised the issue after casting his vote in Dadar.
"People come out, wipe the ink, and go back inside to vote again. Then they come out, wipe it again and re-enter. Is this what the government calls development?" he said.
The ink mark could be wiped off with a hand sanitiser, Thackeray said, alleging that "the entire system is working to ensure the victory of those in power...this is not how free and fair elections are conducted."
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he too received reports of ink being washed away. "This is shocking," the former chief minister said, accusing SEC Waghmare of siding with the ruling BJP-led alliance and demanding his suspension.
Maharashtra Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar made the same allegation. Notably, state minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat too endorsed the claim about the ink coming off fingers easily.
The SEC, however, claimed that even if someone tried to vote again by removing the ink mark, it was not possible as other safeguards were in place.
"After a voter casts their vote, an official record of the voting is maintained. Therefore, merely wiping off the ink does not make it possible for a voter to cast a vote again," it said in the statement.
Following orders issued on November 19, 2011, and November 28, 2011, marker pens have been used to apply ink on voters' fingers during local body elections. As per these orders, the ink must be applied clearly using a marker pen, and it should be rubbed three to four times on the nail and the skin above the nail, the SEC said.
Chief Minister Fadnavis dismissed the allegations. "The Opposition is looking for excuses in advance," he said after casting his vote in Nagpur.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he spoke to SEC official Suresh Kakani. "He said the same ink has been used for the past several years. Now, instead of directly from bottle, they are using it from marker pens. I think the SEC is vigilant to avoid bogus voting," he added.
BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said, " If there is problem with the ink, concerned poll official should be held responsible. It was unfair to hold BJP responsible for the same."
State Women Commission chairperson and NCP leader Rupali Chakankar wrote to the SEC, demanding a probe into cases of ink removal and bogus voting.
