Bangladesh national boxer Zinnat Ferdous has appealed to the government, raising concerns over alleged administrative failures, lack of transparency, and favoritism within the Bangladesh Amateur Boxing Federation (BABF).
The US-born boxer detailed a series of grievances, claiming that systemic issues within the federation have hindered both her career and the development of boxing in Bangladesh.
Zinnat, who switched allegiance from the United States in 2023 to represent Bangladesh, said she has proudly competed on the international stage, winning six medals in seven tournaments over the past two years. Her achievements include gold medals at events in the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Portugal, and Bangladesh, along with bronze finishes in Poland and Spain.
Despite her success, she alleged that most of her international participation has been self-funded, highlighting what she described as a lack of institutional support. She also pointed to repeated administrative lapses by previous federation officials, including failure to submit required documentation for two World Championship events — setbacks that effectively ended her hopes of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Zinnat further claimed that similar mismanagement persisted under the current administration, alleging that officials missed deadlines for the Islamic Solidarity Games due to a lack of awareness.
Her latest concern centers on selection uncertainty for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. She told Dhaka Tribune she has not received clarity regarding her inclusion and was “incorrectly” submitted in the 54kg weight category — despite competing consistently in the 50–52kg division. She also alleged that her preferred 51kg category has been assigned to a less experienced athlete with family ties to a senior federation official.
Zinnat said she was pressured by BABF general secretary M A Quddus Khan to attend the last National Boxing Championships in Dhaka on less than a week’s notice, claiming it was necessary to meet the selection criteria for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Despite the short notice, she competed and secured the gold medal in the 52kg category, alongside the "Best Athlete of the Tournament" award. However, upon following up on selection, she was informed that she must return to Bangladesh for a trial fight — specifically to compete against the secretary’s female relative in the 51kg weight category.
The boxer stated that she had attempted to resolve the matter through internal channels, including the federation and the Bangladesh Olympic Association, but received no meaningful response.
In her letter, Zinnat urged the government to investigate the federation’s practices, calling for accountability and reforms to ensure merit-based selection and equal opportunity for athletes.
“Sports should be defined by merit, discipline, and equality,” she wrote, warning that favoritism and lack of accountability risk undermining those values.
Zinnat, who has become an inspiration for many young athletes — particularly women — said her decision to represent Bangladesh was rooted in pride and purpose. However, she expressed concern that ongoing issues within sports administration could discourage athletes and stall progress.
She called for immediate action to ensure that fairness, transparency, and professionalism are upheld in Bangladesh’s sporting institutions.
“I respectfully urge the government to investigate the current practices within the Bangladesh Amateur Boxing Federation, ensure accountability, and take meaningful steps to eliminate bias and promote fairness in sports administration,” she said.
BABF general secretary M A Quddus Khan said the selection for the Commonwealth Games has not yet been made.
“The selection is not done yet. We will have a trial fight. Then we will go to selection,” Quddus told Dhaka Tribune.
“Olympic (Bangladesh Olympic Association) will decide who they will send or not,” he added, urging Zinnat to come to Bangladesh and participate in the trial fight.
“We don’t know her current performance. What’s the problem if we call Zinnat for a trial fight? Doesn’t she have to take part in it? We also have female players with gold medals,” Quddus said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has no boxer as globally acclaimed as Zinnat, who has won half a dozen medals in five international competitions and one national meet.
