There’s no benefit in attacking me: Asif Mahmud

Asif Mahmud, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stated that there is no advantage in attacking him, emphasizing that any legal issues should be resolved in court. "We have consulted the Ministry of Law regarding the complexities involved. Since they are experts in the field, we will make a decision based on their advice," he said.

Mahmud made these comments during a press interaction on Tuesday (May 20) afternoon, following a youth gathering at the National Youth Training Institute in Savar.

When asked by journalists if he was being seen as an obstacle to the BNP's movement, Mahmud responded, "The government operates as a collective body, and no one has the authority to make individual decisions. Especially in significant matters like this, it's not for me to make decisions alone. Given the legal complexities and the fact that the issue is under judicial review, attacking me serves no purpose. We must fight the legal battle in court. Regarding the existing issues, we have sought the Ministry of Law’s opinion. We will reach a conclusion based on their expert advice."

On India’s recent ban on land trade, Mahmud said, "The advisor to the Ministry of Commerce has pointed out that India stands to lose more than us, as it exports significantly more to Bangladesh. This sudden move has caught us off guard, and we need to find alternative solutions. While there may be temporary challenges and losses for businesses, we see this as an opportunity to move towards self-reliance in the long term."

Present at the event were Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Dr. Gazi Md. Saifuzzaman, Director General of the Department of Youth Development, among others.