Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said there will have no enough scope to do anything for Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib Al Hasan if International Cricket Council (ICC) takes any step.

“If ICC takes any step, then there will have no enough scope to do for him [Shakib],” she said at a press conference responding to a query about a media report on Shakib that the all-rounder is set to be banned by ICC for not reporting a corrupt approach.

Stating that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is always with Shakib, the premier said, "It's right that he made the mistake and he realised it. Yet, the BCB will be with him (Shakib)” she said.

Shakib should inform the matter to the authorities concerned, she also said while briefing the media at Gono Bhaban on her just-concluded Azerbaijan tour for attending the 18th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) this afternoon.

Meanwhile, hours after the prime minister’s remarks, the ICC, this evening, banned Shakib Al Hasan from all cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended, after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

However, talking about the strike of the cricketers, the prime minister also expressed her annoyance and said they have gone for strike to meet their demands abruptly.

“They had to informed the BCB about their demands. We and the BCB provide good support to the cricketers which is merely rare in other countries,” she said.

“I didn’t hear that cricketers call strike. Demands have to place first and then strike is called after issuing a notice,” she said.

Their (cricketers) problems have been solved, the prime minister again said.

PM slams media for not publishing report on casino business

Sheikh Hasina also sarcastically criticised the media role for not publishing any report on casino business.

“There is a large number of newspapers in Bangladesh while around 32 television channels are running, but no media can give the news on casino business. But why?” Hasina asked.

“You (journalists) possess many news, but nobody gets the news how modern and sophisticated casino equipment have been brought to the country. Even you did not get any news in this regard. Can you give the answer before the nation? You can’t do so ever,” Hasina said.

Responding to a query, he said there is no relation between Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the casino business.

Hasina said a person of the BCB was involved in the casino business and he has been arrested and thus now the question in this regard is irrelevant.

Claiming that she did not get any news on casino anywhere, Hasina said, “Based on intelligence, I initiated the drive, I took the responsibility to find out and arrest the wrongdoers engaging suitable officials in the drive.”    

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, posed a counter-question saying that what will happen if any journalist is found involved in the casino business as nobody knows who will be arrested in this connection.

How dare BNP to raise the question over anti-corruption drive

Responding to another query over the ongoing anti-corruption drive, Hasina said she has been engaged in politics since her childhood and born in a political family.

“And thus, I am not the person to be afraid of. If I was afried, I wouldn’t have gone for the drive. I told earlier that such type of drive has to conduct from own house,” she said.

She, pointing finger at BNP following a question, said, “They are a mine of corruption as they grabbed power after 1975 illegally and opened the door of corruption to keep the power in their grip.”

Maximum leaders of BNP are accused in several cases including killing and corruption. Even chief of the party is now behind the bar on corruption charge and its acting chief is exiled also on corruption charge, she said.

“How dare they? Criticism over the drive is indecorous in their faces,” the prime minister said.

BNP posses so much money that the party men have bought FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) in America and attempted to kidnap Joy (her elder son also ICT affair adviser), and at one stage, they have been held, she said.

Onion crisis temporary

Responding to a query over the recent price hike of onion, the prime minister said it is a temporary crisis and the crisis will be solved soon.

“There is nothing to worry of the inion price,” she told responding to a query in this regard. 

The problem over onion price will be solved soon as 10, 000 metric tonnes will come within a couple of days, she said adding that more 55,000 tonnes of onions are entering the country later.

“It is possible to cook without onion. Many items are cooked without onion at my house,” Hasina said.

The stockers will not be beneficiary by building a stock of the onion as the daily essential is rotted goods, she added.       

The premier attended the NAM Summit on October 25-26 in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.

She also held meetings with a number of NAM leaders, including prime ministers of Iran, Malaysia and Nepal.

During her tour, the PM held a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in the Presidential Palace.

After the meeting, Bangladesh signed an instrument with Azerbaijan to boost cultural ties between the two countries.

Bangladesh State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Azerbaijan Cultural and Tourism Minister Dr Abulfas Garayev inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the deal-signing ceremony.

Bangladesh State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Azerbaijan Cultural and Tourism Minister Dr Abulfas Garayev inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the deal-signing ceremony.