‘There can be no greater disgrace for the country’

Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFFE) could not send the women’s football team to Myanmar to play Olympic qualifiers due to financial crisis. In this context, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon said, “There can be no greater disgrace for the country than this.”

He said this at a press conference at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday (April 7). Nazmul Hasan Papon made the said comment when asked about BCB president Kazi Salauddin’s harsh comments.

Papan does not want to pay attention to what Salahuddin said about the person. However, Papon, the president of the country’s richest sports organization, cannot accept the fact that women cannot go to the Olympic qualifiers.

He said, ‘I think there is another matter here. It’s sad. There can be no greater disgrace for the country. We are saying, the country is moving forward; Economically moving forward, the whole world is accepting. At that place, we are saying, for 20 lakh rupees, the girls of our country cannot go to play pre-Olympics. It doesn’t get any more shameful than that. That’s why I don’t want to talk about this topic. There is no question of talking to them.’

The BCB president said that if the matter had been told earlier by Buff, then the financial crisis would have been resolved. Cricketers could also pay money.

At this time, Papon also said that the daily expenses of some of the directors of the Football Federation are Tk 20 lakh.

Nazmul Hasan Papon said, ‘Believe me, I did not talk to anyone. Our players gave. Just once. What is this! Keeping things so secret, the process that did it, it’s very sad. Football boards have more managers than we have cricket boards… unbelievable. 20 lakhs cannot be paid. Their daily expenses are 20 lakh taka. I find it very surprising.’

Earlier, Salahuddin taunted Papon and said, ‘Everyone’s personality is not the same. I will not show people and say, this Prime Minister called. I’m not like that. I come from a football background. I can’t do that drama. I respect the Prime Minister. I can’t show people.’

Regarding the Prime Minister’s phone call, Papon said that if the Prime Minister calls, he will pick it up in any situation.

At that time, the BCB president said that Salahuddin was so upset because he wanted to account for the money.

‘See, simple things. The first thing is that if the honorable Prime Minister calls, I will pick up the phone wherever I am. I don’t know why he said about it. I do not want to comment on this.’

‘I think the problem is yours. Why did you ask such a bad question? You are looking for an account, what did the money? Why do you ask such questions? Everyone knows that if he does this, he will be upset. Why do you ask such a question? If you do, the head will be fine?’