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Rohingya crisis

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  PM seeks OIC support to resolve Rohingya crisis Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today sought support from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to help resolve the Rohingya crisis. He made the appeal when ambassadors and high commissioners of OIC member countries stationed in Dhaka paid a courtesy call on him at his Cabinet Division office at the Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. During the meeting, the envoys congratulated Tarique Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister. The OIC member states also reaffirmed their strong commitment to standing beside Bangladesh and strengthening bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including investment, trade, education, healthcare, textiles, and the pharmaceutical industry. Rony said the Prime Minister welcomed their remarks and, on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh, thanked the OIC countries for their continued support. T...
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Bangladesh Unwilling to Play in India Despite Offer of State Security

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ICC T20 World Cup
Bangladesh Unwilling to Play in India Despite Offer of State Security

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a firm and final position that it will not play any matches of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India, regardless of security assurances.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to hold an online meeting with the BCB today to discuss the issue, according to sources. Under ICC regulations, a formal participation agreement is signed ahead of every tournament. If a team later withdraws from a tournament or part of it, it must provide a valid justification. Historically, the strongest justification has been a “government ban,” a rationale previously accepted by the ICC in cases involving India and Pakistan, with matches relocated accordingly. In the current T20 World Cup, for instance, Pakistan is scheduled to play its matches in Sri Lanka.

The BCB is now pursuing a similar course, citing security concerns as the primary reason for refusing to play in India. The Bangladesh government has reportedly concluded that Bangladeshi players, officials, and associated personnel would not be safe there and has instructed the team not to travel to India. The board has formally requested the ICC to move Bangladesh’s matches to another country.

Security concerns were further amplified by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) excluding Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following threats from political and extremist groups. The BCB argues that if the safety of a single player cannot be guaranteed, there can be no assurance for the security of an entire delegation, which would include players, coaches, officials, journalists, and supporters.



BCB president Aminul Islam reiterated this stance while speaking to journalists at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office after signing a condolence book following the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. “At this moment, we do not feel safe going to India to play the World Cup. We have clearly stated our position in our letter. Security is a major concern,” he said, describing Mustafizur’s exclusion from the IPL as “disrespectful.”

In an attempt to ease the situation, the BCCI—through the ICC—may propose providing Bangladesh with state-level security in India during today’s meeting. However, senior BCB officials have indicated that the board will not accept such an offer, citing the binding nature of the government directive and broader safety concerns beyond just the players.

The BCB’s position has placed pressure on the BCCI as the host board, which is responsible for ensuring both participation and safety. The ICC, as tournament organiser, must also secure guarantees from the host nation. Despite ICC chair Jay Shah being an Indian national, the issue has not been dismissed lightly, and some Indian media have reported that the ICC may be open to relocating Bangladesh’s matches.

Relocating fixtures just a month before the World Cup, however, would be highly complex, requiring changes to schedules, broadcast arrangements, and logistics, as well as consent from the opposing teams Bangladesh is due to face in four group-stage matches.

If the ICC rejects the BCB’s request and Bangladesh refuses to alter its stance, tournament regulations allow for Bangladesh’s opponents to be awarded walkovers. While harsher sanctions are also possible, BCB officials believe such outcomes are unlikely. “We don’t expect anything severe to happen, because everyone understands there are genuine security concerns,” a senior board director said on condition of anonymity.

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