Salahuddin welcomes investigation following Olympics fiasco

The parliamentary standing committee on the Youth and Sports Ministry has asked the concerned ministry to investigate why the Kazi Salahuddin-led Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) failed to send the national women's football team to the 2024 Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Myanmar.

The decision came on Monday after the 30th meeting of the parliamentary standing committee with Abdullah Al Islam Jacob in chair, while Naimur Rahman Durjoy MP, Abdus Salam Murshedy MP and Zakia Tabassum MP were among others present on the occasion.

"The parliamentary standing committee [on Youth and Sports] expressed their dissatisfaction after the SAFF Championship-winning Bangladesh women's team failed to take part in the Paris Olympic qualifiers," read out a statement from the parliamentary standing committee on the Youth and Sports Ministry. 

"As the statement from the BFF president [Kazi Salahuddin] has tarnished the image of the government, as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, so the committee has recommended the ministry to look into the matter and seek explanation from the federation by launching a proper investigation," the statement further said.

The high-ups of the Youth and Sports Ministry, sports directory and chiefs of different associations were also present at the meeting, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the BFF president said he is open to such an investigation.

"If they want to look into the matter, they are absolutely welcomed, I have no issue regarding it. They are free to do what they have to do," Salahuddin told The Daily Star on Tuesday.