Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Amin Ur Rashid Yasin alleged that sports were politicised during the “fascist Awami League government.” He made the remarks on Friday night while attending a reception for the Cumilla district cricket team, champions of a national cricket competition, at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy. Yasin said sports are a source of joy and that the BNP government is trying to change the situation.

The minister praised the Cumilla players for winning the national cricket title and bringing honour to the district. He said he believed many of them would go on to play internationally and bring honour to the country.

Cumilla City Corporation Administrator and metropolitan BNP general secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu chaired the event. District Commissioner Rozi Akhtar, Additional Superintendent of Police AKM Kamruzzaman, Bangladesh Cricket Board councillor Md Kabir Khan and other sports, political and social representatives attended. Tipu said the city corporation is working continuously to develop sports and promised more successful events in the future.