The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has welcomed former national shuttler and seasoned sports administrator Jubaidur Rahman Rana as its new Secretary General on Thursday.
His appointment was confirmed during the organisation's sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections, held on Sunday at a hotel in Cox's Bazar.
Jubaidur Rahman succeeded Syed Shahed Reza, a long-serving steward of the BOA secretariat whose tenure spanned several terms. His departure marks the end of an era-one shaped by institutional memory, steady leadership and a deep-rooted commitment to nurturing the Olympic spirit in Bangladesh.
The AGM elected the full 36-member Executive Committee for the 2025-2029 term, reaffirming General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Army Staff, as President. Five vice-presidents, the treasurer and all 25 executive members were elected unopposed, reflecting broad consensus across the Olympic family.
Only the contest for the two Deputy Secretary-General posts reserved for Olympic-discipline federations saw ballots cast. In that competitive arena, MA Kuddus Khan and Mahbubur Rahman Shahin secured victory over fellow contender Tanvir Ahmed. The third Deputy Secretary-General post, under the Patron quota, went uncontested to Mohammad Amzad Hossain of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
A significant step forward came with the approval of a BDT 28-crore budget for FY 2025-26, signalling a renewed financial thrust towards athlete development, preparation programmes, and greater international engagement. The AGM also endorsed the Bangladesh Squash Racket Federation as an Olympic-affiliated federation, expanding the nation's footprint in Olympic sport.
The election, however, arrived under a cloud of debate. The National Sports Council, days earlier, pointed to a potential conflict of interest, noting that Mr Rana had served as convenor of the five-member Search Committee formed to reform the sporting landscape, while newly elected vice-president Maj (Retd) Imroz Ahmed had been a member of that same body. Despite the scrutiny, the BOA proceeded with a full and decisive electoral process.
As the curtain falls on one chapter and a new one rises, expectations loom large. Stakeholders now hope that this renewed leadership, balancing experience with forward-looking ambition, will strengthen governance, energise athletes and steer Bangladesh towards greater regional success and a stronger global presence.
