In a decision that has raised eyebrows in Bangladesh’s sports and political circles, the Ministry of Home Affairs has withdrawn the travel ban imposed on former Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin and his close associate Mahfuza Akhter Kiron. The development comes despite ongoing corruption investigations against Salahuddin, a long-time ally of ousted fascist leader Sheikh Hasina.
According to multiple sources, Salahuddin had been seeking ways to leave the country since August 5, 2024, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. While former BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon reportedly fled abroad earlier, Salahuddin was unable to secure similar permission—until now.
BFF President Tabith Awal wrote to the Home Ministry’s Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani on September 16 requesting the withdrawal of the travel ban on Salahuddin. A separate letter was also sent on behalf of Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, former Women’s Affairs Secretary of the Jubo League. The letters prompted the Home Ministry to seek opinions from the Special Branch (SB) of Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
While the ACC reportedly confirmed that an investigation into Salahuddin’s illegal wealth accumulation is still ongoing, and SB said it had not yet submitted its formal opinion, the travel ban was nonetheless lifted.
Long-Standing Ties with Hasina Family
Salahuddin’s rise in sports politics was closely tied to his personal relations with Sheikh Hasina and her family. During his tenure, he often claimed proximity to Hasina, referring to her as “Apa” in political and sports circles. His close ties extended to Sheikh Rehana’s son, Bobby Siddique, under whose protection Salahuddin consolidated power in Bangladesh’s football arena for over 15 years.
Since August 5, after the regime change, Salahuddin reportedly maintained indirect contact with Hasina and is now allegedly seeking direct meetings.
Trail of Corruption and Irregularities
During Salahuddin’s presidency, BFF was plagued by allegations of massive corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement.
- FIFA and AFC concerns: FIFA previously banned BFF’s then-general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag for four years and fined senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy nearly $100,000 over financial irregularities.
- Misuse of funds: Allegations include embezzlement of government allocations worth BDT 20 crore, siphoning of FIFA’s $700,000 grant meant for the Sylhet Football Academy, and fake expenses of $290,000 for broadcasting equipment for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
- Ticket and sponsorship scams: Salahuddin and Kiron allegedly used BFF funds to buy international tournament tickets—reselling them to businesses for profit while distributing complimentary tickets to political allies and members of the Sheikh family.
- Personal enrichment: Salahuddin’s daughter Sarazin and her husband Alex reportedly engaged in business ventures tied to government projects, including a BDT 100 crore software supply deal and commissions from hospital construction contracts.
ACC and other agencies have collected extensive documents related to these allegations, but no trial has yet commenced.
Foreign Lobbying and Power Retention
As president of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), Salahuddin has reportedly tried to leverage his regional football position to facilitate his exit from Bangladesh. Despite the collapse of domestic football structures during his leadership, he maintained strong ties with foreign football bodies to secure personal influence and protection.
A Shock Move
The withdrawal of Salahuddin and Kiron’s travel ban, despite active investigations, has drawn quiet but strong reactions from sports insiders and anti-corruption activists.
“It’s shocking,” a senior sports official commented off the record. “Everyone in the sector knows what happened to BFF funds under Salahuddin. Lifting the travel ban at this stage raises serious questions.”
The Anti-Corruption Commission had earlier issued multiple letters to BFF demanding financial records. In 2022, an investigation was launched into Mahfuza Akhter Kiron’s HSBC account, suspected of holding illicit funds. Those findings have yet to be made public.
