SPORTS REPORTER

The High Court yesterday issued a rule questioning the inaction and failure of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and other authorities in ensuring a safe, harassment-free and gender-sensitive environment for women cricketers.

In the rule, the court asked the government and BCB officials to explain why the cricket board’s failure should not be declared “unlawful and against public interest”. While the rule remains pending, the court directed BCB to implement an anti-sexual harassment policy in line with the guidelines laid down in a previous judgment and to submit a report on the implementation of the interim order.

The HC bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order following a writ petition filed by former national shooter Sabrina Sultana, seeking necessary directives.

BCB had formed a three-member independent inquiry committee-- later expanded to five members -- to investigate sexual harrasment claims by former national women’s team captain Jahanara Alam against coach Manjurul Islam. The report was handed over to BCB president Aminul Islam yesterday.