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The absence of Mahbubul Anam from the latest Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election did not go unnoticed. After nearly two decades as a director—the longest tenure in BCB’s history—his decision not to contest marked a significant turning point in Bangladesh cricket administration.
Anam last served as chairman of the powerful Grounds Committee. Over the years, he received both praise and criticism, which is natural for someone in such a long-standing role. However, the most consistent criticism was his failure to bring visible improvement to cricket grounds across the country. Despite years of responsibility, pitch quality and infrastructure development remained a concern for players and observers alike.
Yet, cricket-related shortcomings alone do not explain his sudden withdrawal. The real reasons lie beyond the boundary.
Vested Business Interests
Mahbubul Anam is the Managing Director of Expo Group and Allied Aviation Bangladesh Limited, with major interests in air and ocean freight forwarding and logistics. As a politically exposed person (PEP), his business activities have long attracted regulatory attention.
That scrutiny intensified after the Oman Air Cargo controversy. Allied Aviation Bangladesh Limited served as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Oman Air Cargo until December 2022. The contract was terminated following a forensic audit by Oman Air’s head office, which reportedly found prima facie evidence of malpractice. Allegations included underreporting cargo weight, manipulating freight rates, and favoring Expo Group’s own freight forwarding units in cargo space allocation. The cancellation of the GSA contract dealt a serious blow to Anam’s business credibility.
Most of the business of Mr. Mahbub has connections with his long time friends and business partner Mr. Mizanur Rahman who heads some of the Freight Forwarding and GSA companies such as WAC Logistics and Fast Forwarding Ltd acting as GSA of Saudia Cargo.
Mahbub Anam and his close associates control multiple companies in freight and logistics businesses including Joint Venture set up with several European and USA based global and regional freight forwarding companies. He also have significant stakes in various Non Banking Financial Institutions, NBFI and Educational institutions in Bangladesh and also have several foreign offices in Middle East and Far East.
ACC Investigations and Legal Pressure
More serious, however, are the ongoing investigations by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). In late 2019, the ACC imposed a travel ban on Anam amid allegations that he had accumulated wealth exceeding Tk 625 million—assets reportedly inconsistent with his known sources of income. Instead of fading with time, the case resurfaced with renewed force in 2024, when the ACC again launched investigations into money laundering and illegal wealth accumulation. The travel ban remains in effect, and the inquiry is still ongoing.
The ACC’s concerns are not limited to personal wealth. Investigators have also looked into alleged abuse of power during Anam’s tenure at the BCB, including claims of tender manipulation and favoritism in sponsorship and contracting decisions. These allegations raise serious questions about governance and conflict of interest in sports administration.
In late 2025, the situation grew more complicated when an ACC Director was suspended for allegedly accepting unethical benefits from Anam, including hospital expenses. Rather than weakening the case against him, the incident further deepened public concern.
Leaving BCB: A Choice or a Compulsion?
Against this backdrop, Anam’s decision to stay away from the 2025 BCB election appears less voluntary than it was officially presented. While he cited a desire for a “better environment,” many observers believe the move was driven by mounting legal pressure, ongoing investigations, and a shifting political climate that left little room for maneuver. Another point to remember that Mr Anam is having a dual citizenship, probably a Canadian passport holder.
His departure ends a long chapter in Bangladesh cricket governance, but it also leaves behind uncomfortable questions. How did such prolonged influence escape effective oversight? Were institutional checks strong enough to separate business interests from sports administration?
A Lesson Learnt
Mahbubul Anam’s exit from the BCB reflects a broader challenge in Bangladesh’s institutions, where business, politics, and sports governance often overlap. Whether his departure signals genuine accountability or merely a pause before further developments remain to be seen. What is clear, however, is that long tenure and influence cannot replace transparency—and without it, no institution remains beyond question.
