BTF gen secy accused of sexual harassment

A case was filed against Bangladesh Tennis Federation (BTF) General Secretary Golam Morshed on Wednesday for sexually harassing an adolescent girl while she was participating in an ITF Junior International Tennis tournament in Dhaka earlier this month.

The case was filed under the Woman and Child Repression Prevention Act with the Gulshan Police Station. Investigation officer SM Kaium, while confirming it to The Daily Star yesterday, also said that an investigation was going on and police were trying to capture the accused.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday suspended Golam Morshed.

“Golam Morshed has been removed from his position as the general secretary with immediate effect on the grounds of misconduct and anti-discipline,” said NSC secretary Masud Karim. Masud also said that he will act as BTF general secretary apart from his regular duty.

According to the FIR, the victim, who lives abroad with her family, came to Dhaka to take part in the ITF-sanctioned tournaments in Dhaka and Rajshahi, as well as another international club cup tournament. 

“My niece [brother’s daughter] came to Bangladesh to take part in an ITF Junior Tennis tournament and was accommodated at Dhaka Club rest house with the help of Golam Morshed. On November 4, 2019, Golam Morshed invited my niece to dinner at about 7:20pm. My niece accepted and went on his private vehicle to a Gulshan house on road 90. He offered liquor and cigarette at the place. He also sexually abused her in the vehicle and used abusive words,” the plaintiff said in the FIR.

“My niece tried to stop him and requested him time and again to not use abusive language. He took my niece to the coffee house and then again took her to his house and made an indecent proposal. My niece then refused all his proposals and started shouting. Later, Morshed sent her to the Dhaka Club rest house on an Uber at about 11:00pm,” said the plaintiff.

The plaintiff also said that the victim left Dhaka on November 14 ‘without informing us’.

“But my brother came to know of the incident through an email from my niece and after consulting with tennis high-ups, we decided to file the case. That is why it took us some time to file the case,” the plaintiff said in the FIR.

The Daily Star tried to communicate with Morshed, but despite repeated calls and texts, he did not respond.

Last month, BTF treasurer Sheikh Mohammad Aslam had brought allegations of financial irregularities against Morshed.