The High Court has issued a rule asking why the removal of Faruque Ahmed from his position as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) should not be declared illegal.
The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Sathika Hossain issued the order on Tuesday, following a hearing on a writ petition filed by Faruque.
The Youth and Sports Ministry secretary and the BCB, among others, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for the petitioner in court. Representing the BCB were Barristers Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim, Mahin M Rahman, and Shaleh Akram Somrat. Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the National Sports Council (NSC).
Following the hearing, barristers Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim and Mahin M Rahman said that alongside the issuance of the rule, the court also imposed a status quo on the responsibilities of Aminul Islam Bulbul at the BCB.
Explaining the status quo, the BCB's legal team said that the board of directors, led by Aminul, would continue to function in their current capacity.
On Thursday, the NSC cancelled Faruque’s nomination to the BCB.
The next day, the NSC appointed former national team captain Aminul as a BCB director.
On Sunday, Faruque Ahmed filed a writ petition challenging the legality of both decisions.
The petition sought a rule asking why the decisions made on Thursday and Friday should not be declared beyond legal authority.
It also requested a suspension of the implementation of those decisions while the matter remains under judicial review.
The writ petition named five respondents, including the Youth and Sports Ministry secretary and the BCB.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the NSC nominated Faruque and Nazmul Abedeen as BCB directors, replacing former directors Jalal Yunus and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam.
Faruque was later elected BCB president by vote in a board meeting.
