Asked why their relationship had suddenly deteriorated after running the federation in tandem for nearly six years, Nazimuddin and Intekhabul blamed each other.

"The fact is that Inthekhabul wanted to do business with the federation but I interrupted him. That is why the relationship soured. He started this business in 2017 as per the probe committee report. I personally brought Tk 3.5 crore from the government to renovate the shooting range and install electric target changers. We later heard that his company provided each target changer for Tk 26 lakh but the federation itself changed each electronic target changer for only 6.33 lakh. That is a big difference," Nazimuddin told The Daily Star last month.

"The probe committee submitted their report on March 21 during the lockdown. At the time we could not do anything. However, we discussed the report through a Zoom meeting on June 6 and asked the secretary general for an explanation, which he placed in early July. We will decide on it at the next meeting," added Nazimuddin, who has been involved in shooting since 1986, barring a four-and-a-half-year period from 2009 to 2014.

Asked why general secretaries always faced allegations, Nazimuddin said: "I did not resign in face of allegations. I resigned following an argument with then-president [Major General Ashab Uddin]. The only allegation against me was when shooter Asif Ahmed was beaten by the police in 2006 and I was blamed because I could not protect him. Some vested groups provided false information to the media to spin the incident. At the moment, the NBR called on shooters but I am being blamed for not protecting them," said Nazimuddin.

Having termed Nazimuddin the instigator, Inthekhabul provided a defence against the allegations he faces. "He [Nazimuddin] brought me into shooting because he needed a man against [former general secretary Isteaque Ahmed] Bablu bhai. Many people told me that he used me against Bablu bhai," Inthekhabul told The Daily Star last month. "Nazim bhai doesn't spare anyone who goes against his opinions. That is his character. He never makes those persons understand and bring them back to work. Instead, he always chops those who go against him. He is now acting against me because I went against his opinions."

Asked about his business with the federation, Inthekhabul said: "I'm not doing business with the NSC from today. Our company -- Delco -- has been involved in developing all the cricket stadiums in the country. Delco was awarded the work by the NSC as the lowest bidder," explained Inthekhabul. "You can ask the NSC why they bought each electronic target changer at Tk 26 lakh instead of Tk 6 lakh."

Inthekhabul further claimed: "The BSSF president actually brought the allegations against me after I did not agree to pay additional bills worth more than Tk 2 crore to a company that he is familiar with, which was awarded the works ahead of three companies recommended by the Tender Evaluation Company. It renovated the BSSF's four-storey building at an original agreement of Tk 2.72 crore.

"After being elected secretary general, I personally provided approximately Tk 40 to 50 lakh per year behind shooting. The BSSF president is trying to convict me by bringing allegations to keep me away from the upcoming elections."

Both of them may have fierce arguments to defend themselves, but it would be better to see that zeal in answering why shooting has not progressed and in identifying obstacles in the development of shooting.

"We are using the older model air rifles and pistols during training, which are inaccurate. So how will the young shooters improve? I think the BSSF should persuade the government to allow the clubs to import guns and bullets, similar to what India is doing," said a former national coach seeking anonymity.

Often shooters have struggled to train properly due to a shortage of bullets. To solve the ongoing problems, former officials and shooters see no ways but to dissolve the existing committee and appoint an ad-hoc committee, comprising real organisers and former shooters.

"It is a master plan to destroy shooting and it is happening due to some old organisers," Commonwealth Games gold medalist Ateequr Rahman told The Daily Star. "We are ashamed by the present condition of shooting, which could not win a single gold medal in the SA Games in December. We once beat our Indian counterparts regularly."

"Bangladesh shooting has been suffering due to a battle of interest among officials, who never think about the country. We don't need this committee. It should be dissolved immediately," Ateequr said, demanding that former shooters be inserted into the ad-hoc committee so they can look after the interest of shooters.

Urging the dissolution of the existing committee, former general secretary Isteaque Ahmed said: "As it is a federation of arms and ammunition, the president needs to be an army official as they understand the use of the arms and bullets. The appointment of an army official as president will bring balance to the committee."

"It has been proven that shooting won't benefit from bureaucrats or businessmen. It needs real organisers and an army official as president. Shooting has all but vanished due to internal conflicts. A lot of money is being spent but there are no results," said another general secretary asking not to be named.

Although the youth and sports ministry's move to form an ad-hoc BSSF committee allegedly came to a halt after lobbying from some quarters, many believe it is high time to revive shooting by taking immediate steps as the national shooting team now depends heavily on BKSP and Bangladesh Army instead of rifle clubs across the country.