Shakib Al Hassan gets armed guard after threats over Kali Puja event; machete man arrested

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been given an armed bodyguard after he was getting death threats for attending  inauguration ceremony of a Kali Puja mandap in India, Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Wednesday. According to Dhaka Tribune, Shakib visited Kolkata's Kakurgachi to attend inaugural ceremony of a Kali Puja mandap. However, this did t go well with player's fans who started criticising him.

'We took immediate measures' 

" threat is concerning," Bangladesh Cricket Board's chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters in Dhaka. "We took immediate measures and also informed relevant security ncies. y are also taking necessary steps," Chowdhury added, without giving furr details. According to media reports, an armed bodyguard was seen beside Shakib during a training session in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of a domestic Twenty20 tournament next week.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh police on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly issued death threats to Shakib Al Hasan for inaugurating a Kali puja pandal in Kolkata, even as cricketer issued an apology and said he only joined function briefly. A joint team of elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police arrested 28-year-old Mohsin Talukdar from souastern Sunamganj district after 24 hours of a massive manhunt. "He is w in our custody awaiting subsequent legal procedures," a police officer familiar with development told news ncy PTI.

After cricketer's picture at programme in Kolkata's Amra Sobai Club went viral, Talukdar went live on Facebook on Sunday night carrying a large machete in his hand and threatened to kill Shakib, saying he hurt his religious sentiments by inaugurating Puja event in West Bengal's capital city. By early morning, Talukdar, however, withdrew threat and apologised in ar live video on social media and n went into hiding. He was later traced in neighbouring Sunamganj district. His wife was previously detained for questioning.

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Shakib denies inaugurating ceremony

33-year-old cricketer in a post on Facebook denied inaugurating puja pandal. He said it was inaugurated by Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim. "Media, social media everywhere it was flooded that I went to Kolkata to inaugurate a puja ceremony which actually was t reason behind my visit and I did t inaugurate puja. puja was inaugurated by Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata. In my invitation card it was clearly mentioned that I was t chief guest for puja," he said in post on Monday.

cricketer also issued an apology, saying he is a "practising Muslim and always tried to follow religious customs (and) please forgive me if I have done anything wrong". Shakib went to Kolkata last Thursday for business purposes and was n pictured at a Kali Puja festival in Kolkata's Kakurgachi area.

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