New ad-hoc committees draw mixed reactions

The National Sports Council (NSC) on Thursday disclosed ad-hoc committees for nine sports federations – bridge, tennis, squash, kabaddi, athletics, billiard and snooker, basketball, chess and hockey – to mixed reactions from former and current players and organisers.

Since the fall of the Awami League government in August in the face of the student-led peoples' movement, most sports bodies have been in a standstill as many top officials, who were associated with the previous regime, went into hiding. Then on September 10, the ministry of youth and sports removed presidents of 42 sports bodies.

The ministry had formed a five-member search Committee in late August to reform the sports bodies. After holding discussions with different stakeholders, the committee sent its recommendations for nine ad-hoc committees last month, which the ministry finally approved yesterday, after scrutinising it for about three weeks.

These ad-hoc committees are supposed to reform their respective sports bodies and then hold elections down the line. However, the NSC did not mention a set time frame for the nine ad-hoc committees to hold the election, which it usually does when forming ad-hoc committees.

These ad-hoc committees are comprised of 14 to 19 members with the inclusion of former players, coaches, organisers, businessmen, corporate service holders, students and current and retired government officials.

While some stakeholders are optimistic about the new committees, some are disappointed by the appointments and unconvinced if they can help the country's sports.

"I know most members of hockey's ad-hoc committee. I hope they will be able to run the federation smoothly but I think there are a lot of challenges ahead of them such as holding the domestic competitions regularly and managing the funds," said former national forward Rafiqul Islam Kamal, who is also involved with Usha KC.

However, Ariful Haque Prince, former forward and former joint secretary of the now defunct hockey committee, did not share Rafiqul's optimism.

"In this committee, allies of the fascist Awami League government have been rehabilitated. The clubs and districts are contributing a lot to hockey but they have been ignored," said Prince.

Former joint secretary of the kabaddi federation Abdul Mannan questioned why businessmen were included in the ad-hoc committee, saying, "Proven organisers of past committees have been overlooked in the kabaddi's ad-hoc committee. Grassroot level organisers were also not considered."

However, former national captain Tuhin Tarafder felt that capable persons have been included in the ad-hoc committee and another former captain Arduzzaman Munshi believed that the new committee can deliver something positive.

Former athlete-cum-organiser Shamima Sattar Mimo welcomed the new committee in the athletics federation, as did the country's four-time fastest man Mohammad Ismail.

"Members of the new ad-hoc committee had been part of the committee prior to 2010. I hope they will arrange long-term training, send athletes abroad and hold domestic competitions on time like they did before," said Ismail, requesting the new committee to hold the national meet as soon as possible.

Grand Master Enamul Hossain Razib said the formation of the chess ad-hoc committee reflected their meeting with the search committee.

"We hope the ad-hoc committee will organise good international tournaments, provide financial help to promising players and take chess out of Dhaka, to other parts of the country," said Rajib.