Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) vice-president Faruque Ahmed has called the failure of eight First Division clubs to appear in matches -- a breach that led to their relegation -- a "bad omen" for Bangladesh cricket.

The protesting clubs, citing alleged irregularities in the recent BCB elections, have questioned the legitimacy of the current board.

Fault lines opened up further as the rift between the board and the protesting clubs saw the ongoing First Division league postponed for two more days after two matchdays. Matches scheduled for the next round on December 17 and 18 will be postponed, the BCB press release read.

Eight First Division clubs walked over in matches on Sunday and Monday, leading to the BCB issuing a press release yesterday saying that teams failing to appear in scheduled matches resulted in relegation, effective from next season, as per tournament regulations. Consequently, Partex Sporting Club, Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy, Amber Sporting Club, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity, Surjotorun Club, Kakrail Boys Club and Orient Sporting Club have all been demoted to the Second Division.

The BCB vice-president saw only one side being determined not to end the conflict. "There are not two sides here; there is one side. I think the clubs do not want to play," Faruque told the media after the Victory Day exhibition match yesterday morning at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

"Now, I don't know how much benefit anyone gets by stopping the game. The loss will be for Bangladesh cricket players.

"What I am most concerned about now is that the trend they have started -- at any time, over any issue, stopping the game -- could become a system... I think this is a bad omen," he added.

At least 50 players staged a protest outside BCB gate 2 over the ongoing conflict. Faruque said the board is looking to resolve the issue quickly, with a meeting scheduled with the 12 remaining First Division teams on Wednesday to draw up a new schedule.

Already, there is awareness within the Cricket Committee Of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) that similar occurrences of walkovers will take place in the Second Division. A CCDM official informed, "The Second Division league will begin in January, and we have heard that 10–12 teams will not play.

"We will talk to the clubs on [December] 20th and give the schedules for players' transfers and the start of the league."