Bangladeshi Advisor on Information and Broadcasting, Razwan Habib, has expressed her country’s hurt over the controversy surrounding the inclusion of Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL team. In a statement, she stated that Bangladesh was not ready to acknowledge the reasons behind Rahman’s removal from the team. She added that when political tensions arise in countries, sports and cultural exchanges can help reduce the tensions, but India’s actions have been the opposite.
Noted Indian scholar and politician, Shashi Tharoor, has praised Habib’s statement, saying she is “completely right.” In response to the controversy, the Kolkata Night Riders, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, had faced severe criticism for including Mustafizur Rahman in their team. Extremists had called Khan a traitor, and the team was subsequently forced to release Rahman from the squad.
Following the backlash, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced that it would not send its team to the T20 World Cup. A statement from the board confirmed that the decision was made in an emergency meeting with directors.
Meanwhile, in other news, a Palestinian diplomat has welcomed the opening of the Palestinian embassy in London, calling it a “historic moment.” In Afghanistan, another Afghan refugee has been deported from Germany after being involved in a human trafficking case.
In Venezuela, US Ambassador to the UN, Maria Zakarowska, has stated that the US will not allow the country’s government to reduce its efforts to combat drug trafficking. A survey by a news agency found that only 33% of Americans support US military action in Venezuela.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, has expressed hope that US-Venezuela relations will improve in the future, saying that his country cannot be compared to Venezuela. Liberal Democrats have called for a legal opinion on US action in Venezuela, stating that the silence on the issue is tantamount to giving Trump political protection.
US Vice President Mike Pence has expressed gratitude to those who have expressed sympathy for the vandalism of his home, saying he is thankful for the support. In Iran, the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mehrani, has stated that those involved in the recent unrest will face consequences.
In Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodriguez has announced her surrender and offered to cooperate with the US. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the situation in Venezuela, calling for a peaceful resolution.
In other news, a report has stated that the coldest temperature of the season was recorded in England, with a temperature of -10.9 degrees Celsius in Cumbria.
