TBM Sports
The Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation (BSSF) has slapped a one-year ban on Kamrun Nahar Koli, one of the country’s premier female shooters, citing a breach of the organization’s code of conduct.
The decision was formalized through an official notification issued by the federation.
The move comes roughly a month after Koli was placed under temporary suspension and served a show-cause notice.
According to the BSSF, while Koli provided a written explanation regarding her conduct, the federation deemed her response “unacceptable.”
Allegations of retaliation
The ban has sparked controversy within the sports fraternity. Koli had previously leveled serious allegations of sexual harassment and arbitrary misuse of power against G.M. Haidar Sajjad, the now-expelled joint secretary of the BSSF.
Following an investigation into those claims, the National Sports Council (NSC) had removed Sajjad from the federation’s committee.
Insiders in the shooting circuit suggest that Koli is being victimized for speaking out against high-ranking officials. However, the federation has consistently denied any claims of a “vendetta,” maintaining that the disciplinary action is strictly administrative.
BOA expresses concern
The decision has also drawn sharp criticism from the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), particularly as Koli is a recipient of the prestigious International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship.
Major (Retd.) Imroz Ahmed, Vice President of the BOA, termed the sudden ban “unfortunate” and “unexpected.”
“We were already in discussions regarding Koli’s situation. Since she is an IOC scholarship holder, the federation should have consulted with the Olympic Association before taking such a drastic step,” said Ahmed.
He added that the BOA intends to mediate between the concerned parties to reach a logical and fair resolution.
