table of contents
Cricket has evolved and nowadays, spot fixing and match fixing has reduced from the game, with strict rules and penalties for cricketers and other staff involved in management. Now, after the introduction of the Gambling Prevention Bill, 2026 in the Parliament, Bangladesh has taken a step forward towards criminalizing match-fixing and spot-fixing, with the guilty person facing seven years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 crore.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in discussions with the government to turn match-fixing into a criminal offence, reports Cricbuzz. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed introduced the bill in Parliament on 24 June. This has been done to take strict measures against online gambling, betting, match fixing and spot fixing.
Match fixing and spot fixing have been declared crimes – Bangladesh Cricket Board on match fixing
The new law enacted replaces the Public Gambling Act of 1867, with all offenses under the new law classified as specific, non-bailable and non-pardonable. This category identifies gambling and fixing-related offenses into 24 categories and prescribes 14 different types of punishment depending on the nature of the offence.
“Match-fixing and spot-fixing have been criminalized in the new Gambling Prevention Bill recently proposed in Parliament by our Honorable Law Minister, which was sent to the Law Ministry for evaluation,” Barrister Mahin M Rahman, General Counsel, BCB’s Integrity Unit, told Cricbuzz on Saturday (June 27).
“A maximum of 7 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of Tk 1 crore (was proposed in the law) for match fixers and spot fixers,” he said. Under the proposed law, cases will be heard in cyber tribunals and courts having jurisdiction under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
No right to file case – Maheen M Rahman on match fixing
It will be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to analyze the new law made in Bangladesh and prepare a report within five business days.
“One thing is that the anti-corruption units of different federations do not have the authority to register cases, every process has become police-based, police law enforcement and government agency based, I think this is a mistake, the government can well incorporate it (by involving the anti-corruption unit of different federations) and honorary members of parliament can give an input on it,” Mahin said.
“The bodies and teams that are there for anti-corruption activities in the federations should be entrusted with the power to lodge complaints and information should be taken from them,” he said. “All federations have an anti-corruption unit and their input should be recognized by law.”
Bangladesh implements new rules to stop fixing
Such offences, which are listed under the Mobile Courts Act of 2009, can also be tried in lower courts. Authorities will also be able to block social media platforms, websites, mobile applications, servers, domains and IP addresses used to commit such crimes.
The proposed law empowers courts to order closure of bank accounts, mobile financial services (MFS) accounts, payment gateways, digital wallets and cryptocurrency wallets used for gambling. It also calls for the establishment of a national digital blacklist to aid in the prevention of bookmaking, online gambling, money laundering and other criminal activities.
