Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will stand beside cricketer Sakib Al Hasan no matter what.
“BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] is there with Shakib to provide all kinds of support. Gamblers usually approach cricketers like him,” she said on Tuesday (Oct 29).
The premier was responding to queries on Shakib not informing ICC about being approached by a gambler for match-fixing.
Hasina said that Shakib took the matter lightly but he should have informed the ICC immediately as per the rules.
“He made a mistake here. If ICC takes measures here, there’s nothing much to do about it but we would like to say that he holds a place in international cricket,” she said.
The premier was addressing a press conference her just-concluded Azerbaijan tour after attending the 18th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at her Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.
She attended the NAM summit held from October 25-26 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On the sidelines of the summit, she also held separate meetings with a number of NAM leaders, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Algeria's acting President AbdelkaderBensalah.
During her tour, she also held a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at his Presidential Palace where both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral relations in the years to come for mutual benefit.
After the meeting, Bangladesh signed an instrument with Azerbaijan on cultural assistance to boost cultural ties between the two countries.
Bangladesh State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Azerbaijan Cultural and Tourism Minister DrAbulfasGarayev inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides.
The Bangladesh prime minister and the Azerbaijan president witnessed the deal-signing ceremony.
'NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT ONION'
Describing the overheated onion market as temporary, PM Hasina said there is nothing to worry about it.
“The crisis is temporary. It won’t last for long. There’s nothing to worry about. Prices will come down in a day or two,” she said.
In a bid to control the spiralling prices, some 50,000 tonne of onion has already been imported, Hasina said before adding, “As far as I know, another 10,000 tonne will enter the country soon. So, there’s nothing to be worried about.”
On a lighter note, the prime minister said cooking is also possible without onion. “There are several dishes which can be made without onion. I don’t see any reason to be panicked over it.”
Prices of onions have gone up by several folds in the local markets following India's ban on the export of onions on Sept 29.
PM'S VISIT TO KOLKATA
Dismissing the query on whether she would discuss the Teesta water-sharing deal during her upcoming visit to Kolkata to watch Bangladesh-India Test slated for Nov 22, Hasina asked why should she raise the issue during a visit to enjoy the game.
"Incumbent BCCI president SouravGangulyphoned me and invited to watch the match in Kolkata. I, too, assured him of keeping his invitation," Hasina said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be coming to watch the match, Hasina said before adding that the Teesta deal can be discussed in the coming days.
SATISFIED OVER MENON
The PM said she has nothing to say when journalists drew her attention over the remarks of Awami League’sally Workers’ Party of Bangladesh chief Rashed Khan Menon on the last general election
Hasina said that she told the 14-party Alliance spokesperson that she is busy and had no time to worry about Menon's remarks.
She further said if the people didn't vote we wouldn't be in power. "We had waged movement against their (BNP) ballot-less polls... After the (11th parliamentary) election, people from all walks of life supported us," she added.
'Bro anything in this series?'- Bookie to Shakib
Shakib banned from all cricket for two years
Shakib will come back 'stronger than ever', says wife
