Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon met with certain representatives of the Divisional and District

Sports Associations (DSAs) yesterday in order to exchange views ahead of the BCB elections.

Many see this meeting as a strategy to counter the Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organizers Council - popularly known as Forum and an association within the DSAs — who have openly voiced their opinion against certain processes of the election.

The DSAs are a major force in the upcoming elections. 71 councillors will be chosen from the DSAs, out of whom 12 will be elected for directorship roles in the BCB’s executive committee.

"There is a relation with the associations regarding the election but there is no relation with Forumregarding the BCB elections. Forum is just a group within those associations, but it does not mean that every councillor will be selected by Forum. I never heard its name, so I don't want to recognise this association," Papon told reporters following the meeting. "Every time there is any election in any sports organisation Forum always raises their issues only for their benefit, "he added.

The president, who had met 31 representatives yesterday, stated that he would be meeting 20 other members of DSAs in the coming days. He further stated that they would not interfere with the district associations in their selection of the councillors. The board could however support those who have been involved in the cricketing sphere for a while.

"For example we want Akram Khan on the board because he will help Bangladesh cricket to develop, but it does not mean that Akram is already selected. The districts and divisions will either select Akram or

not," he said.

The president of Forum, Yusuf Jamil Babu, in a phone conversation with The Daily Star said that Forum was not worried about the meeting.

"Forum will remain as strong and united as ever. We are paying this no heed. It doesn't mean anything to us if just five or six general secretaries out of the 71 attended this meeting," said Babu.

With regards to Chittagong Divisional Sport Association's general secretary AJM Nasir being present in the meeting he said, "He received a contract from the BCB (for the Cox's Bazar stadium), so there's no harm in him being there."

In reply to Babu's statement, ad-hoc committee member IH Mallick said, "General secretaries aren't the only ones who represent the association. There were 31 representatives who met the president today and the number will increase in the coming days. They have given us the assurance that they will stand up against the Forum."