Bangladesh moves to criminalise match-fixing as part of wider betting crackdown

Bangladesh is moving towards making match-fixing a specific criminal offence, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Integrity Unit working with the government on a new law that would bring fixing under penal legislation as authorities tighten their stance on illegal betting and online gambling.

Bangladesh is preparing to become the latest country to treat match-fixing as a crime under national law, according to officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Legal counsel Mahin M. Rahman of the BCB Integrity Unit confirmed that the board is drafting proposals with the government to criminalise fixing and related corrupt practices in cricket and other sports, consolidating today’s fragmented rules into a single statute.

The policy shift follows an extensive integrity probe into the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Acting on a 900-page report by a three-member committee, the BPL Governing Council recently barred nine players from this year’s auction, placing them in a “red-flag” category over suspected involvement in corrupt activities during the previous season. Rahman said the investigation exposed gaps in the existing framework, where match-fixing is not explicitly defined as a criminal offence under the Penal Code and is instead tackled through sporting regulations and scattered gambling provisions.

Under the emerging plan, Bangladesh would introduce a dedicated law targeting manipulation of sports competitions, modelled partly on jurisdictions such as Sri Lanka, where cricket-specific anti-fixing offences already exist. The draft would set out clear definitions of fixing, corrupt approaches and obligations to report suspicious activity, with breaches treated as criminal conduct rather than solely disciplinary violations. Rahman indicated that formal talks with the government are expected after the country’s next general election in February 2026, with options ranging from a standalone statute to amendments adopted via ordinance.

The move comes against the backdrop of a broader clampdown on illegal betting and gambling-related activity. In 2025 Bangladesh adopted the Cyber Security Ordinance, which criminalises online gambling and allows courts to impose prison sentences of up to two years and fines of up to Tk 10m for running or promoting gambling platforms, with additional penalties for fraudulent or deceptive conduct online. The Criminal Investigation Department has since launched nationwide enforcement campaigns targeting online betting networks and payment intermediaries.

By moving to treat match-fixing itself as a crime, Bangladeshi authorities and the BCB aim to close remaining loopholes, signal zero tolerance for corruption in sport and align the country more closely with international best practice on sports integrity.