Nazmul Hassan is projected to continue as BCB president for a third term after he was among 16 contestants to win the board of directors' election on Wednesday. Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh captain, was the biggest name missing out after he was trounced by Saiful Alam Chowdhury as the Rajshahi division representative.

This was the most competitive BCB election in more than ten years, although the new 25-member board of directors bear a mostly similar look as the 2017-21 board. There were polls in two other categories, including the powerful Dhaka clubs' segment from where 12 directors were elected.

Hassan, who has been elected as the BCB chief unopposed since 2013, won with 53 votes in this Dhaka clubs' category. Six previous directors also won in this segment while there were five first-time directors.

From the third category that includes education institutions, armed forces and former cricketers and captains, Khaled Mahmud, the former Bangladesh captain, emerged as the winner against Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who was a surprise candidate.

From the divisions and districts category, seven directors already won uncontested while former Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman and newcomer Tanvir Ahmed won in the Dhaka division after two other contestants withdrew in the last moment.

"This is the first time I saw a proper election in the cricket board," Hassan said. "There wasn't an election in the previous two occasions. It was a peaceful elections this time. The biggest thing is that people could vote. This is a good message for future candidates who I hope will come forward next time."

Mashud, who led Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup, conceded that he lost to a better candidate.

"The councilors deemed (Chowdhury) as the better candidate," he said. "They probably believed in him more. I hope he can improve cricket in Rajshahi and Bangladesh. I wanted to work in a bigger role in Bangladesh cricket, but it didn't happen this time. But I am always going to be with cricket."

Jalal Yunus and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam were selected as the National Sports Council's directors.

In the coming days, these 25 directors will call upon one of the directors as a president, which is most likely to be Hassan.