‘Bangladesh seeks to rebuild sports ties with India’:Aminul Haque reveals BCB’s plans to ‘break ice’ with BCCI

Bangladesh’s newly appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, has said that the government is working to resolve recent issues with India while maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries. His comments come at a time when diplomatic relations between the two countries have faced challenges. Bangladesh did not take part in the ongoing T20 World Cup after the Yunus-led interim government decided not to send the national team, citing security concerns. The decision led to Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland in the global tournament. Many observers believe that relations between India and Bangladesh have become strained since Yunus assumed leadership following the July 2024 student movement that removed the previous Awami League government. After the recent general election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party formed the government with a majority of seats. There are now high expectations that the new leadership will address the issues with India. Aminul Haque talks with the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Speaking to reporters after taking the oath on Wednesday, Aminul shared details of his meeting with India’s Deputy High Commissioner. “After attending the oath-taking ceremony today, I met with the Deputy High Commissioner of India at the Parliament building. I discussed this matter (T20 World Cup issue) with him. He was very friendly, and I also spoke to him in a friendly manner. I told him that we want to resolve this issue quickly through discussions because we want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries. From sports to all other sectors, we want to build a sincere and cordial relationship,” Aminul told reporters at his residence after swearing-in program on Wednesday. He also admitted that diplomatic complications prevented Bangladesh from participating in the World Cup. “You know that because of diplomatic complications, we could not play in the World Cup. If those issues had been discussed and settled earlier, our team might have participated,” he said further. Questions over BCB’s cricket board election Aminul also raised concerns about the previous Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election. He described the election process as questionable and said discussions would be held with relevant authorities. “Regarding the Cricket Board election, I have said before and I still say that it was questionable,” said Aminul. “Look, this matter is regulated by the ICC. Within the framework of the law and regulations, whatever needs to be done will be addressed through discussions. After sitting down and reviewing everything properly, I will comment further,” he said. The minister acknowledged that reforms cannot happen overnight. “I cannot change everything in one day. It is not possible. Long-standing practices take time to reform, and I will need your cooperation as well. I want to ensure that sports are not politicized or turned into partisan platforms. Those who truly love sports and the sporting community should be given responsibilities in different sectors,” he said. Shakib and Mashrafe’s possible return Aminul also spoke about former national captain Shakib Al Hasan and ex-skipper Mashrafe Mortaza. Both players were associated with the previous government and are currently facing legal cases after its fall. Aminul said the government would work to settle these cases at the state level. “As for Shakib and Mashrafe, this is a state-level decision. They are legendary cricketers of Bangladesh, and we deeply appreciate their contributions. However, there are cases filed against them, and those will need to be addressed through proper state decisions. We want them to return to Bangladesh as soon as possible,” said Aminul.