Judicial Scrutiny Intensifies: Bangladesh High Court Demands Accountability from Cricket Board Over Systemic Safety Failures for Women Athletes

The Bangladesh High Court has launched a formal judicial inquiry into the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) systemic failure to protect female cricketers from harassment, declaring the board's inaction potentially "unlawful" and "against public interest." This judicial intervention follows mounting evidence that the BCB has neglected to implement its own anti-sexual harassment policies despite documented allegations. The court has issued a direct order requiring immediate policy enforcement and comprehensive reporting, signaling unprecedented judicial oversight over sports governance. This development represents a critical inflection point in Bangladesh's sports administration, highlighting institutional accountability gaps in athlete protection mechanisms. The ruling establishes a legal precedent that sports governing bodies bear direct responsibility for creating secure professional environments, with potential ramifications for other sporting organizations across South Asia. The court's characterization of institutional neglect as contrary to public interest elevates athlete safety from an administrative concern to a fundamental governance obligation.