World Cup excitement: politicians and their favourite teams

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Emran Hossain Shaikh, Pavel Haider Chowdhury, Aditto Rimon
Published : 06:59, Jun 16, 2018 | Updated : 06:59, Jun 16, 2018

Politicians of BangladeshThough Bangladesh is far away from competing at the premier stage of World Cup football, there is no dearth of excitement here over FIFA World Cup, Russia 2018.
Bangladeshis love the game and there is a special penchant among the people for Latin American football with a staggering fan base of both Argentina and Brazil.
There are supporters of Italy, Germany and Spain too. And, they are not merely vocal during a match; while the World Cup is running, almost everyone becomes a football specialist, engaging in spirited, sometimes heated arguments with other football lovers.
The sphere of politics is no different either, with all the known faces getting involved in the greatest sporting carnival of all.
In politics, AL chairperson and PM, Sheikh Hasina, and BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, may be on opposing sides, but in football, both support Brazil.
Current opposition leader in parliament, Rowshan Ershad, senior co-chairman of Jatiya Party is also for the yellow and green of Brazil.
Speaker of the current parliament, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, is not supporting any particular team; she will watch a few matches and choose the team she feels is playing the best.
But the speaker’s husband, pharmacist, Syed Ishtiaq Hossain, is a Brazil fan, her daughter Lamia Shirin will back Spain and her son, Ibtesham Rafiq, will be cheering for France.
But he has also bought jerseys of Brazil and Argentina, the speaker said, alluding to her son.
While the PM supports Brazil, commerce minister and member of the AL advisory committee, Tofail Ahmed, will be backing Argentina. Another AL leader and advisory committee member, Kazi Zafrullah, is a fan of the German team while one of his sons is a Brazil aficionado.
They don’t get the chance to see the matches together though when world cup discussion takes place on the table, the argument stirs up passion.
Dr. Abdur Razzak, AL presidium member is an Argentina supporter and tries to keep himself free when his team has a game. Meanwhile, another presidium member, Faruk Khan is a Germany fan.
Member of the AL advisory committee and industries minister, Amir Hossain Amu, does not support any team but will watch all the matches of football’s greatest meet. He said he will support the team which eventually wins the trophy.
Begum Matia Chowdhury, minister for agriculture, said: “I don’t watch football and therefore do not support any team.”
Obaidul Quader, minister for bridges and communication, is a Brazil fan along with minister for public administration, Syed Ashraful Islam.
AL joint secretaries, Mahabub ul Alam and Abdur Rahman are Brazil fans though Abdur Rahman’s wife is Argentina.
Organisational secretary of the party, A K M Enamul Huq is for Brazil while his wife and daughter are Argentina fans. Another organizational secretary, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and his wife are Argentina supporters while their only daughter, Tushar Adri, will support Asian representative, Japan.
BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is a Brazil supporter and will always back his team, in victory and defeat.
BNP standing committee member, Moudud Ahmed, does not support any one team, He likes both Brazil and Argentina. From European teams, he supports Germany.
He hopes this time the trophy will go to any of the three.
Standing committee member, Dr. Moin Khan, likes players, not teams. He said: if Bangladesh played then I would have supported our team but I like the style of play of Messi, Neymar and Christiano Ronaldo.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, had always been a Brazil fan while both vice chairmen, Azam Khan and Barkatullah Bulu are Argentina.
Special secretary, Asaduzzaman Ripon, is a fan of Germany while secretary of international affairs, Masum Ahmed Talukder, is Argentina. Meanwhile, BNP publicity secretary, Shahid Chowdhury Annie, will be cheering for Germany.
Jatiya Party co-chairman, Golam Kader, is Argentina while his wife and son are Brazil.
JSD president, A S M Abdur Rab, is not supporting any nation but is a lover of the game. He said, if Bangladesh played then he would have supported his country.
Workers Party president and social welfare minister, Rashed Khan Menon, said he is a seasoned Brazil fan. He also said that he has a soft corner for smaller teams.
Meanwhile, JSD president and information minister, Hasanul Haq Inu and his son, once a renowned goalkeeper and player of top flight local club Mohammedan, are Brazil supporters.

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