Protest in Barishal against BCB director Mizan over alleged mockery of prime minister, banners set on fire
Leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal staged a protest in Barishal against Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Mizanur Rahman, alleging that he mocked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The protest took place in front of Kabi Jibanananda Das Stadium in Barishal at around 8pm on Friday. Protesters tore down several banners of Mizanur at the stadium's main gate and set them on fire, and declared him unwelcome at Barishal Stadium, calling him an ally of the Awami League.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of youths gathered in front of Barishal Outer Stadium at around 8pm and began the protest. At one stage they tore down several banners of BCB director Mizan, set them on fire and chanted slogans against him.
Nazmul Huda, a recently former vice-president of the city Chhatra Dal who joined the protest, said 'Fortune Mizan' mocked the prime minister while sitting in a stadium in Dhaka, laughing as he said 'we have a plan' while outlining plans for football.
Nazmul Huda claimed Mizan had previously been president of the Barishal district unit of Sainik League, an associate organisation of the Awami League, and asked how such a person came to be in the BCB. He said agitated leaders and activists set fire to Mizan's banners at the stadium at night, declared him unwelcome at Barishal Stadium, and warned that any attempt by anyone in the BNP to rehabilitate him would be resisted.
Law College Chhatra Dal convener Humayun Kabir Sumon, member secretary SM Jewel, former city Chhatra Dal joint general secretary Sohel Sikder, assistant general secretary Alex Tamal and former drama affairs secretary Arian Khan Masum, among other leaders and activists, were present.
Stadium pump operator Md Mamun said some youths set fire to several banners in front of the main gate, and that they were looking into the matter.
On the allegations, BCB director Mizanur Rahman said: 'I don't know what happened at Barishal Stadium.' On the tearing and burning of banners, he said: 'What will banners do?' He made no comment, however, on the allegation of mocking the prime minister.
Mir Hasan Morshed Sumon, a member of the Barishal district unit of Jatiyatabadi Krira Dal, said: 'As an Awami League ally, Fortune Mizan cannot mock the prime minister. We strongly condemn this incident.'
Barishal Deputy Commissioner and District Sports Association convener Mamun Khandaker said he did not know about banners being set on fire at the stadium and no one had informed him, but he was looking into it.
Mizanur Rahman had laughed and said 'we have a plan' to the media in Dhaka while talking about plans for football. Criticism began after a 10-second video of him spread on social media on Friday.
