Bangladesh's right-arm pacer and vice-captain of the T20 team Taskin Ahmed has issued legal notices to private TV station Ekattor TV and Bangla daily Samakal, demanding retractions and apologies for broadcasting and publishing allegedly false and defamatory reports that have tarnished his reputation.
Represented by Advocate Jobayer Mohammad Aourangzeb, Taskin Ahmed has taken a firm stance against what he describes as baseless allegations that have caused significant harm to his standing both nationally and internationally.
The notice to Ekattor Media Limited, who owns Ekattor TV, pertains to a report aired on the sports segment “Khelajog” on July 1. The broadcast alleged that Taskin missed the team bus and arrived at the cricket ground after the toss for the match against India on June 22.
According to the report, this delay led to his exclusion from the playing XI. However, the legal notice claims that while Taskin did miss the bus due to “an innocent mistake of missing the alarm,” he arrived at the ground 20 minutes before the toss and participated in the national anthem ceremony. The decision to exclude him from the team had been made prior to these events and was unrelated to his late arrival.
The notice asserts that the report aired by Ekattor TV contained “false and defamatory statements” that were broadcast without due diligence or reliable sources. Taskin's legal representative emphasized that the unfounded allegations violated defamation laws and significantly damaged his credibility and standing.
Similarly, Samakal is facing a legal notice for a report published on July 3, which claimed that Taskin’s performance in a World Cup match against Nepal was compromised due to his consumption of a “special drink” the night before, leading to him vomiting before the match.
The legal notice refutes this claim, explaining that Taskin felt nauseous due to motion sickness from traveling on winding roads. Upon arriving at the stadium, he consulted the BCB medical team, who found him fit to play after prescribing medication for his nausea. Taskin participated in the match and contributed to the team's victory, contradicting the report's implications.
The notice describes the allegations published by Samakal as “derogatory, false, baseless, and defamatory,” highlighting the significant harm and mental distress caused to Taskin.
Both legal notices demand that the respective media outlets withdraw the defamatory reports and issue unconditional apologies on their platforms within seven days. Taskin’s legal counsel warns that failure to comply will result in legal action, both civil and criminal, seeking appropriate damages for the harm caused. UNB has seen both the legal notices.
Taskin, who played a crucial role in the T20 World Cup 2024, publicly acknowledged his mistake of missing the team bus and apologized to his teammates and coaches. He expressed his regret in a social media post. Before issuing the legal notices, Taskin stated in an interview that both Ekattor and Samakal had spread false news and rumors about him.
