Shakib wanted to join politics, but I discouraged: Major Hafiz

Shakib Al Hasan, one of the most brilliant cricketers in the world, expressed his interest to join politics to BNP Vice Chairman Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, but the latter discouraged him in doing so.

Speaking at a press conference at his Banani residence today (March 19), Hafiz Uddin said, “He came to me and said that he wanted to join politics. I told him, you are still a professional cricketer. Joining politics may hamper your career as a sportsman. However, at the end of the day it is your decision whether you would join politics or not. Not receiving encouragement from me, he left.”

“Some retired army officers brought him to me five months before the January 7 national election when they were going to form a new political party, Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM). But I discouraged him from joining the new party,” he told the press conference.

The BNP leader organized the press conference to clarify his position regarding a few of the recent media reports which suggested that he was instrumental behind the scenes in forming BNM, with Shakib Al Hasan joining the party.
Along with the media reports a photo of Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Shakib was also published.
About the recent rumours that Hafiz Uddin is going to join BNM, the BNP leader said, “What have I done? Have I joined BNM? Have I split the party? I was offered to join the new party but declined the proposal.”

Informing that some influential leaders of the ruling Awami League contacted him six months before the elections, he said, “They saw that I sometimes had differing opinions on the policy-making issues of BNP. They assumed that I was eager to leave BNP. But I told them that after 32 years of political career as a BNP leader, it is not possible for me to leave the party now."

“I am physically unwell and will soon retire from politics," he added