Shakib has expanded his business world beyond the playground



Hassan Adnan and Mehedi Hassan Rahat, Dhaka
ছবি: সংগৃহীত

ছবি: সংগৃহীত

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Shakib Al Hasan is the 'poster boy' of Bangladesh cricket. He is also discussed at various times for his controversial activities on and off the field. However, Shakib Al Hasan is not just a cricketer in the corporate world of the country. Apart from being known as a commodity ambassador, Shakib has already expanded his reach in the corporate world through various investments and businesses.

Shakib Al Hasan's primary business involvement as a businessman through investment in restaurant business. After that, he quickly expanded his business environment. He has investments in various sectors of the country including stock market, power plants, cosmetics, travel agencies, hotels, event management and crab and kunch farms. Outside the country, Shakib Al Hasan has invested large sums in various countries including the United States and Saudi Arabia.

But above all, Shakib has recently become a big influence in the country's capital market. He has invested large sums of money. He has formed alliances with big 'players' in the capital market. Shakib Al Hasan, the goodwill ambassador of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), the regulator of the capital market, has also recently received approval for a brokerage house. All in all, Shakib Al Hasan has become a big entrepreneur in the corporate world at the expense of cricket.

Banik Barta has investigated about Shakib Al Hasan's investments, assets and business environment. The long search included reviewing bank account information as well as talking to his business associates and classmates. Concerned people said that Shakib Al Hasan entered the business world after 2010. He has invested one after another in different sectors. But the success of Shakib with bat and ball did not catch the business. Most of his institutions in the country are sick. He has already sold some companies. However, recently Shakib Al Hasan is moving to the United States by restricting his business activities in the country.

A few years ago, Shakib Al Hasan's consortium applied to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for a 200-megawatt dual-fuel power plant at Shikalbaha in Chittagong. The proposed power plant of NEL-RML-SNEPSCL Energy Consortium offered to supply power to BPDB for 15 years. The company said it would go into production within a year and a half of signing the contract.

Shakib Al Hasan himself signed the letter sent to BPDB as the authorized representative of the power plant. The letter showed the consortium's head office, the Millennium Square in the capital's Pragati Sarani. However, the BPDB returned the application as it was incomplete. After that, Shakib Al Hasan contacted several big industrialists of the country to jointly build the power plant. But in the end the power plant did not see the light. However, it is still in the state of application to BPDB.

Shakib Al Hasan runs a restaurant called Shakib's Dines in Banani, Dhaka. The restaurant was inaugurated in 2015. However, he sold the restaurant a few days later. At present, there are two restaurants named 'Sakib's-75' in Mirpur and Dhanmondi of the capital.

In 2016, Shakib Al Hasan set up a crab and kunch farm on 14 acres of land in Datinakhali, Burigoalini Union, Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira. However, the farm named Shakib Agro Farm Limited has been closed for almost two years. The company's signboard also disappeared a few days ago.

Bhabatosh Kumar Mandal, chairman of Burigoalini Union Parishad, told Banik Barta yesterday that the farm was set up with land lease from local farmers. But the promised land rent of the farmers was not paid. Besides, the workers blocked the road in protest processions last year due to arrears of salaries and allowances of the workers working in the farm. Shakib Agro Farm Limited has been closed since then. At present the farm does not even have a signboard.

Shakib Al Hasan also started a cosmetics business with the interest of his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir. Shakib inaugurated a cosmetics shop called Cosmic Jovian at Jamuna Future Park in the capital. However, like Crab Farm, the world's leading brand of cosmetics marketing is closed now. A search of the shopping mall yesterday revealed that Cosmic Jovian's showroom has been closed for a long time.

In January 2015, Shakib Al Hasan officially inaugurated an event management company called Fiesta. Although the company started in 2008, Shakib joined it in 2015. Among the 13 directors of the company, Shakib Al Hasan is the chairman and Naqib Chowdhury is the managing director. However, there are allegations against Shakib's event management company of human trafficking behind a cultural event in Japan.

Shakib Al Hasan has visited Saudi Arabia several times since 2016. Shakib's classmates said that even though he went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, his main purpose was to expand his business. At that time Shakib bought several residential hotels in Saudi Arabia. The hotels were bought mainly for renting from Bangladeshis going for Umrah. Following this, Shakib inaugurated a travel agency called 'Sah-75 Tours and Travels Management' in 2020. But due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the business of this organization has also stopped.

Shakib also agreed to buy 20,000 square feet of commercial space at the White Sand Resort Hotel Cum Shopping Mall in Cox's Bazaar in February 2016.

Shakib Al Hasan has been serving as the goodwill ambassador of BSEC since 2017. Monarch Holdings, which owns the company, received initial approval from the company in May this year. Monarch Holdings, which owns the company, received initial approval from the company in May this year. Documents submitted to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) showed that Shakib Al Hasan is the chairman of Monarch Holdings. The managing director of the company is Kazi Sadia Hasan, wife of Abul Khair Hiru, a well-known stock trader in Pankajibazar and an official of the Cooperatives Department. The directors are Javed A. Matin and Abul Kalam Matbar.

Shakib Al Hasan has been playing franchise cricket in different countries since 2009. He regularly plays domestic cricket in various countries of the world including English County Cricket, Big Bash, Indian Premier League (IPL), Caribbean Premier League, Sri Lankan Premier League and Pakistan Super League. Concerned people said that Shakib Al Hasan has earned a huge amount by playing in various foreign leagues. But he did not bring the money earned by playing abroad to the country. Shakib took the earned money to the United States. He has investments in various sectors in the United States. Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan has bought a house in the US state of Wisconsin.

Since 2009, Shakib Al Hasan has been contracted as a goodwill ambassador and commodity ambassador for various organizations. At that time he signed a contract with a bank for Taka 15 lakh as a goodwill ambassador. Shakib Al Hasan got acquainted with the country's banking sector through that agreement. Since then, he has been the goodwill ambassador of various banks including BRAC and Standard Chartered. At the same time, Shakib Al Hasan has acted as advertising ambassador for various products including Pepsi, Banglalink, Castrol, Lifeboy, Singer Electronics, Norton Antivirus, Boost, La Reve, Lenovo, Runner Motorcycle, Ja'NG Ice Cream and Tiffin Biscuits. In return he got huge amount of money from different organizations. He got acquainted with the country's top businessmen, politicians and powerful people.

Shakib Al Hasan's main bank account is in Standard Chartered Bank, a multinational bank. Besides, he has accounts in several banks including UCB, EBL, Islami Bank. Banik Barta has tried to measure his wealth on the basis of information obtained from various sources including Shakib's long time classmate, banker, BO account of capital market.

However, a number of websites that publish information about the income and lifestyle of the stars provide an idea of Shakib Al Hasan's total wealth. According to Cricket Tracker, Shakib Al Hasan's wealth in 2016 was 3.5 crore dollars. And according to Cloud Net Worth, at the end of 2019, Shakib's wealth was 3 crore 60 lakh dollars. On the other hand, according to NetWorthIdea, Shakib's wealth in 2021 is estimated at 4 crore dollars, in Bangladeshi currency which is about Taka 340 crore. The websites have calculated the total assets of Shakib Al Hasan on the basis of his salary as a contracted player of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), income from franchise league, income as a trade ambassador and income from various businesses in Bangladesh.

However, Shakib Al Hasan did not agree to comment on his business and assets. "I don't want to talk about anything at the moment," he said when contacted by cell phone on behalf of Banik Barta yesterday afternoon.

   

Bangladesh won series comfortably against Sri Lanka



Sports Desk, Barta24.com
Photo: Collected

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Rishad Hossain, the name must be remembered. He had a storm with the bat in the last match of the T20 series as well, but the result did not go in his favor. In the last match of the ODI series, Rishad appeared with the bat again after getting a chance in the team. Bangladesh won the series by 2-1 by losing 4 wickets of the Lankans in the last ODI of the series with his bat.

In the series deciding match at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Sri Lanka had a toss of luck. The Lankans, who won the toss and batted first, were uncomfortable from the start. Within 15 runs, Taskin Ahmed guided both the visitors' openers to the sack.

Charit Asalanka and Kushal Mendis tried to handle the initial shock. However, Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain ended their innings before it became scary. Asalanka with 37 runs and Mendis with catches behind the wicket for 29 runs increased the danger of the team.

Zenith Lienage tried to pull the Lankans out of that danger. He also played an unbeaten innings of 101 runs in 102 balls. However, despite the subsequent batsmen failing to give him minimal support, Lienage played a role in bringing the team to his maiden century of ODI career.

Taskin took the maximum 3 wickets for Bangladesh. Two wickets each went to Mustafiz and Mehdi Hasan Miraj.

Bangladesh lost Soumya Sarkar due to injury while fielding. Tanjid Hasan Tamim played a great innings as his concussion replacement. However, Lahiru Kumara swept over the other batters around him. Opener Enamul Haque Vijay, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hriday and Mahmudullah became the victims of this Lankan pacer.

Mahmudullah scored 0 and 1 respectively in the next two matches despite playing an effective match-turning innings of 37 runs in the first ODI.

Tanjid picked up a 51-ball fifty on a day of failure by experienced batsmen. He was stopped by Wanindu Hasaranga after playing an innings of 84 runs with 9 fours and four massive sixes. Asalanka was caught on the boundary while trying to hit a big shot and burned in the regret of missing the century. Losing him, the danger of the team has increased!

However, in the sixth wicket, two experienced batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehdi Hasan Miraj scored 48 runs for Bangladesh to dream of winning again. 25 runs came off Hasaranga's bat before he was caught on the boundary.

Rishad Hossain came to the scene after the return of Miraj. Cricket fans saw his rampage with the bat in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. Today, after getting the opportunity, his bat was on fire again. He won the match and series by playing an unbeaten innings of 48 runs from 18 balls.

After pushing back the nightmare of defeat in two consecutive ODI series at home, Bangladesh has won the ODI series again. The pain of the T20 series loss will also be mitigated to some extent by this win. After two series of white ball, now two teams will fight in white clothes. The first Test of the two-match series will begin in Sylhet on March 22.

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Sri Lanka leveled series



Sports Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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The expectation of Bangladesh to win the series at home was delayed. At least two more days! Having lost the last two ODI series in their home ground, Bangladesh had a bird's eye view of the Sri Lanka series. But Sri Lanka is out of the question. After losing the first match, they gritted their teeth and returned to level the series. Bangladesh lost to the Lankans by 3 wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series.

Bangladesh lost the toss and had to bat first at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Bangladesh's innings started with a scare when Liton Das made his way to the dressing room before opening the run book for the second consecutive match. However, with Soumya Sarkar's responsible innings of 68 runs, the first match centurion captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto's 40-run innings overcame the initial shock and the hosts got the basis for a big collection.

Tawheed is the goal that is fulfilled in the bat of the heart. His unbeaten innings of 96 helped Bangladesh to 286 in 50 overs. Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga got 4 wickets.

Sri Lanka started losing wickets at regular intervals as they started to reply. They were able to accumulate 60 runs on the scoreboard at the cost of three wickets in the power play of Taskin-Shariful's bowling spell.

However, opener Pathum Nisanka and Charit Asalanka, who was dropped at five, formed a big partnershi for the fourth wicket with the benefit of dew in Chattogram later in the evening. With the passage of time, this pair started playing with the bat. Bangladesh bowlers were feeling helpless in front of them. The fielders failed to collect the two half-chances that were being created. Nisanka picked up a 100-ball century just in time for the dew and the fielders not to be affected.

After the century, Nisanka was caught by Liton off Mehedi’s ball in the boundary area while going further uphill. He had to stop at 114 runs. That ended his 185-run stand with Asalanka for the fourth wicket. This is now Sri Lanka's highest fourth wicket partnership in ODIs.

Asalanka (91) could not stay at the crease for long after breaking the pair. The middle-order batsman returned as Taskin Ahmed's 100th victim in ODIs with a shaky 90 at home.

Sri Lanka could have been in danger losing two sets of batters within seven runs. But Hasaranga did not let that happen. Even though he couldn't stay at the crease in the end, his 25-run cameo ensured victory for the Lankans.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face each other in the third and last ODI of the series on March 18 at the same ground. Like the T20 series, the ODI series will also be decided in the last match of the series. Like the T20 series, the end of the ODI series is also colorful for the Lankans. 

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The death of a SAFF winner footballer after delivery



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Satkhira
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Footballer Razia Sultana, a member of the U-19 women's national football team, died of a stroke after giving birth.

On Thursday (March 14), this accomplished female footballer lost her life at her home in Laxminathpur village of Mautla Union in Kaliganj Upazila of Satkhira.

Kaliganj Upazila Chairman Said Mehdi, citing the family, said that footballer Razia Sultana is a daughter of a poor family. Yesterday, Wednesday (March 13) around 10 pm, she gave birth to a son. Later, Razia suddenly suffered a stroke at three o'clock in the night. She died around four in the morning on the way to Kaliganj Hospital.

Mehdi further added that Razia was the best player in football competitions since primary school. Later she got the opportunity to play in the national women's football team. She went to Bhutan to play for the Under-19 National Women's Football Team. But a few days ago, she was given in marriage by the family. We are saddened by the news of her untimely death.

It should be noted that in 2018, Razia Sultana was one of the members of the victorious under-18 women's football team of Bangladesh.

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Shanta's century and Mushfiqur fifty gave Bangladesh a great win



Sports Desk, Barta24.com, Chattogram
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An incredible century by skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanta, along with a blistering fifty by veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, defeated the Lankan lions. Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first at Chattogram's Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. They piled up 255 runs on the scoreboard before being bowled out in 48.5 overs with a pair of fifties by Janith Lienage and Kushal Mendis. For the visitors, the team's maximum 67 runs came from Lianag's bat. Captain Mendis scored 59 runs.

Bangladesh pacers Tanjim Shakib, Taskin Ahmed and Shariful Islam shared 9 of the opposition's 10 wickets, performing as a great pace bowling unit; all three of them took three wickets each.

Looking at the target of 256 runs, no one should be disappointed. In today's context of ODIs, it is not an exaggeration to call this target simple. However, Bangladesh lost its breath in the beginning to chase this run. The hosts lost three top-order batsmen Liton, Soumy and Hriday to score 23 runs.

Mahmudullah Riyad's 62-ball 69-run partnership with skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanta led Bangladesh to move towards the target. But Mahmudullah stopped at 37 runs while going too hard.

Shanta continued to fight with experienced Mushfiqur Rahim. The 'Captains' knocked 53 and got a personal half-century. He spent another 55 balls to turn his fifty into a century. Mushfiqur Rahim, who saw Shanta's brilliant century from the other end, was not far behind. This burnt cricketer left the field only after reaching the port of victory in a responsible fifty.

Shanta's 129-ball match-winning innings of 122* included 13 fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Mushfiq played an effective innings of 73* runs in 8 fours.

Bangladesh was in some trouble after losing four of the last four ODI series at home. Shanta and his compatriots has a bird's eye view of this series against Sri Lanka. The red-green representatives successfully passed the first step of that goal

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