Sports adviser doesn’t see obstructions in Shakib’s leaving the country

Youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain does not see any legal bar in Shakib Al Hasan’s coming and going out of the country later.

While addressing a media conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Sunday, he clearly stated, “There should not be any bar for (Shakib’s) entering or leaving the country.”

If everything goes well, the first game against visiting South Africa, to be started on 21 October, will be the farewell match of Shakib Al Hasan in Test cricket. The all-rounder made the announcement in a pre-match press conference in India’s Kanpur.

Since then there has been discussion, whether murder accused Shakib would face legal issues if he returns home? And, even if he returns home, would he be able to leave the country safely?

Though the issue has been clarified from different levels of the government, people’s curiosity over the matter does not seem to die down.

This is why, youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain had to speak about the matter once again while visiting the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

“As a cricketer, he will play and he is a citizen of Bangladesh. I don’t see any hindrance in his arrival here,” he said.

The adviser further said, “It is the responsibility of the state to ensure every citizen’s security. Ensuring the security of the cricket team is also of the state. We will do that.”

A section of people have been demonstrating against Shakib Al Hasan outside of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur for the last two to three days. Graffitis denouncing Shakib have also been painted on the outer wall of the stadium.

There has reportedly been a scuffle between the pro-Shakib and anti-Shakib groups outside the stadium as well on Saturday.

Asif Mahmud, however, considered this as an expression of the emotion of people who are anti-Shakib. “Actually, this is an issue of emotion. They too have the right. This is a democratic country, there is the constitutional right to wage a movement or anything like that,” he said.

The sports adviser, however, reminded everyone that any kind of instability could threaten the Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa, which might affect the future tours.

“Everyone should be respectful to the security issue. We will have to keep the environment better since South Africa will visit the country. Otherwise, other countries could feel security as an issue to visit here,” he pointed out.

Asif Mahmud requested everyone so that no one’s security is threatened. He said legal issues will take their own courses.

He also cited a statement of the law adviser Asif Nazrul that “the name (of Shakib) will be dropped from the murder case that has been filed if he has no involvement.”

Shakib has already clarified his political stand through a post in his verified Facebook page. He also regretted his silence regarding the student-people movement.

Speaking about this, the sports adviser said, “A big movement was waged and Shakib Al Hasan had involvement with the previous fascist government. He has explained everything in this regard in his post but there have been some emotions. But we don’t see any legal problems as of now.”

He hoped the people of Bangladesh would remain respectful to the law. “Law takes its own course. I think the people of Bangladesh are respectful enough to the law. This has been proved earlier as well. There has been such a big mass uprising. The situation in our country did not take a turn towards what happens in other countries after such an uprising. I believe the people of Bangladesh will keep that stand intact.”