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Transfers begin amid uncertainty

Anisur Rahman
**Under changed circumstances, we have got a primary idea that it won't be possible for Arambagh to form a strong squad, instead we will have to sit with high-profile players in a bid to release them.
Izaz Mohammad Jahangir Arambagh KS vice-president
The players’ transfers window for top-flight football — the SEEK Bangladesh Premier League .. opens today with some lightweights in financial trouble in the wake of recent crackdown on clubs' gambling.
On September 18. Rab busted six casinos at the Club Para and put some of the clubs under lock and key while arresting a couple of the club high-ups. Some other top officials went into hiding to avoid detention, leaving club committees in trouble regarding forming of football squad for the upcoming season.
Though the top performing clubs have not been affected due to support from the directors or direct contribution from patrons, some lightweights have been in a tight spot as they bank on money earned from gambling boards, housie and casinos.
Rab discovered casinos at seven sporting clubs, out of which Arambagh, Muktijoddha Sangsad and Mohammedan ply their trade in top-flight football. Chittagong Abahani, another outfit of the Bangladesh Premier League, were found operating gambling at the club premises.
Now Arambagh, Muktijoddha Sangsad and Mohammedan are in a tight spot regarding roping players for the next season due to financial constraints.
°I can't say what is going on in the players' transfer for Arambagh after the disaster [casino scandal) because the club president and general secretary are not in the countiy. General secretary [Yakub Ali] issupposed to return from India, where he is having treatment, within a couple of days. After that we can understand what is in store for Arambagh," said vice-president Izaz Mohammad Jahangir.
"We have a target of forming a team to surprise all and we have already paid token money, 10 to 20 percent of total payment, to the players. However, under changed circumstances, we have
got a primary idea that it won't be possible for Arambagh to form a strong squad, instead we will have to sit with high-profile players in a bid to release them," said former general secretary adding that they need at least Tk 2 crore to form a team to survive in top-flight football.
Mukitjoddha Sangsad is likely to face more problem than Arambagh as the freedom fighters' side rely more on 'gambling board' from where the club reportedly earns approximately Tk 3.5 crore per year.
Zahirul Islam, the government's administrator of Muktijoddha Sangsad Council, could not be reached for updates on transfers, but an official on condition of anonymity said that the club is in deep trouble to form a squad.
"Some players alleged that their cheques bounced from the bank because no money from the gambling boards has been deposited to the bank. The club needs Tk 5 crore to form a mediocre side and most of the money comes from the gambling board," said the official adding that he does not know what would happen in the transfer window.
Mohammedan's football manager Amirul Islam Babu said they are observing the situation and waiting for directives from the board of directors and old organisers, who have started coming back to the club.
"We are in confusion after the arrest of Lokman bhai because we were asked to complete the contracts for next season by the first week of October. We haven't been contacted yet and we don't know who will take responsibility for the transfers,” said Atiqur Rahman Meshu, who is supposed to play for Mohammedan next season.
Chittagong Abahani vice-president Tarafder Ruhul Amin claimed that the club has no financial problem to form squad as the club is not involved with gambling.
He, however, said that the clubs' association would sit to discuss the matter and request Bangladesh Football Federation to extend the transfers' window following the financial trouble.