Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has come under scrutiny for its alleged misuse of FIFA funds, leading to significant repercussions. Abdus Salam Murshedi, the recently resigned senior vice-president and chairman of the finance committee, has been fined. Additionally, General Secretary Abu Naim Sohag and Chief Finance Officer Abu Hossain have been banned.
The BFF is accused of not adhering to FIFA's guidelines for fund usage, and there are also allegations of mismanagement of government funds. The Ministry of Youth and Sports allocated Tk 20 crore to the BFF, with instructions to keep Tk 10 crore as seed money in a fixed deposit. The interest from this deposit was intended to support the federation's football activities. However, it is reported that the BFF did not comply with these instructions, using the fixed deposit for daily operations instead.
A case was filed highlighting financial irregularities within the BFF. Following this, the court directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to investigate the federation's finances. A committee was formed, and after several meetings, it submitted its report. However, there has been no further update on the investigation for some time. Barrister Suman, who was involved in the case, has been preoccupied with national elections and is currently unavailable, casting doubt on the case's progress.
Former football star Abdul Ghaffar has called for a conclusion to the investigation into the Tk 10 crore. He emphasised the importance of financial transparency within the federation, noting that the matter is still under trial in court.
The resignation of Abdus Salam Murshedi, who signed almost all of the federation's cheques, has added to the BFF's financial woes. If found guilty of mismanaging public funds, he could face further punishment. The federation's finances remain complex and opaque, and with Murshedi's resignation, Kazi Nabeel and Salahuddin will need to sign cheques for the remainder of the term, until any further notice.
