Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and opposition lawmaker Hasanat Abdullah engaged in a heated exchange in Parliament on Wednesday, April 8, during the passage of the July Freedom Fighters Indemnity Bill. The dispute centered on allegations of political influence and control over the newly formed ad hoc committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and other key institutional positions.

Hasanat Abdullah accused the government of turning the BCB into a “father’s blessing cricket board” and claimed that Bangladesh Bank had also been taken over. In response, the Home Minister rejected the accusation, stating that no such “father’s or mother’s blessing committee” had been formed under the current administration. He countered that during the interim government, the then sports adviser had misused power to influence district committees and unilaterally form a BCB body.

Salahuddin Ahmed further alleged that during the interim government, Bangladesh Bank and universities were subjected to political control, which he said disrupted the economy. The Speaker later urged the minister to return to the bill discussion.