Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, regretted his inability to bid farewell to Shakib Al Hasan, arguably one of the greatest cricketers this nation has ever produced, reports UNB.
However, he acknowledged the ongoing public discontent regarding Shakib's association with the ousted Awami League government, describing it as a natural response.
“There is public resentment due to Shakib Al Hasan's association with the Awami fascist government," he stated, emphasizing the importance of addressing these concerns.
Despite Shakib's efforts to clarify his political position through a Facebook post aimed at soothing public frustration, recent protests demonstrated that "it has become evident... that it was not enough." The sports adviser remarked that "those who are protesting also have the constitutional right to do so, underlining the legitimacy of their grievances."
In light of the upcoming series between South Africa and Bangladesh, Asif advised the BCB to discourage Shakib from playing in the country for the time being, aiming to prevent any undesirable situations.
He explained that this decision was made "as an urgent measure to protect both the players' safety and the country's image in international sports."
Asif concluded with a call for respecting the law, stating, "If there are any complaints, solutions can be sought through the legal process."
bd-pratidin/Rafid
