Taken into custody by law enforcement, Durbar Rajshahi franchise owner Shafiqul Rahman has admitted repeated breaches and promised to settle all dues in instalments by February 10.
This information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Monday.
Shafiqul pledged to settle all outstanding dues, as said in the press release.
"In an effort to resolve the crisis, the controversial franchise owner was questioned under the custody of law enforcement authorities in the early hours of February 3.
"Admitting his fault, he committed to repaying all outstanding amounts in three instalments—on February 3, 7, and 10, 2025—at a rate of 25% per instalment."
Throughout this season of the Bangladesh Premier League, Durbar Rajshahi has repeatedly made headlines for failing to pay its players and coaching staff.
The team has been embroiled in multiple controversies, including player boycotts, foreign players refusing to participate due to unpaid wages, multiple bounced checks and international players being stranded in hotels.
According to the ministry’s statement, Durbar Rajshahi has consistently breached contracts with its players, coaching staff and management, thereby tarnishing the reputation of both the tournament and the nation on the international stage.
As reports of the franchise’s unprofessional conduct surfaced in the media, Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain initiated discussions with Shafiqul in an attempt to resolve the crisis.
However, the press release says Shafiqul failed to uphold his commitments.
"Despite assuring the adviser that 50% of the team’s dues would be settled by February 2, no such payment materialized. Instead, allegations of financial misconduct continued to emerge in the media," the statement read.
The ministry also elaborated on the circumstances that led to Shafiqul being taken into custody, saying: "Following speculation about the franchise owner fleeing, the government was compelled to intervene."
Additionally, the ministry confirmed that an independent fact-finding committee is actively investigating the irregularities within the BPL, emphasizing that the Ministry of Youth and Sports remains steadfast in its commitment to taking appropriate action against those responsible for damaging the country’s reputation.
