‘Joy Bangla’ Slogans Chanted During Football Match

During the AFC Challenge League group stage match between Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings and Oman’s Al Seeb at the Al Mubarak Al Hamad Stadium in Kuwait, Awami League leaders and activists were heard chanting slogans such as “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu.” Several videos of the incident went viral, showing some Awami League members shouting slogans in favor of Hasina and against the Yunus government.

Meanwhile, expatriate journalists in Kuwait have expressed strong resentment after the Bashundhara Kings authorities issued a media card to an expatriate Awami League leader who is not affiliated with the media.
Journalists complained that those who continuously work to report on the joys, sorrows, problems, and prospects of expatriates—serving the nation through their journalism—were ignored, while a political figure was given the opportunity to act as a media representative. They termed this act as a violation of journalistic ethics and professional integrity.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had informed the Bangladesh Press Club in Kuwait via email about Bashundhara Kings’ arrival in the country. Following that, expatriate journalists submitted their respective television channel ID cards to the authorities, but they were left frustrated and disappointed after not receiving media access cards.

Expatriates have said that in recent years, some expatriate political leaders have been rebranding themselves by joining various journalist, social, regional, and sports organizations. Allegations have also surfaced that the trend of acquiring positions in such organizations through financial transactions has been on the rise.

khaborwala/MU