UNB, Dhaka :
Only loving the game of cricket, Mustafizur Rahman has been working with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) since 1996 strictly on a ‘no work no pay’ basis. He has, over time, received continuous support from BCB’s media wing, as well as the committee.
Not expecting many benefits for what he does, Mustafizur Rahman who popularly known as benign and agile “Khalu of BCB” among all the sports journalists in the country especially who covers cricket, has been serving as a media assistance at BCB for almost two decades now.
Mustafizur, 50, spent his time at all the cricket venues across the country, but never receiving an overseas assignment.
Khalu expressed his gratitude to incumbent BCB Media and Communication Committee Chairman Jalal Yunus who picked him up as a chief technical assistant for media help during the Mini Cricket World Cup in 1998.
‘Jalal Bhai picked me up to serve for BCB as media assistant back then,’ Khalu said.
He used to play cricket during his student life, hence his weakness for cricket led him to working at BCB. His usual day-to-day job is as a supervisor at Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd (BTCL) the then T&T.
Khalu is a highly fond of Bangladeshi cricket, even now his eyes swell in tears whenever Bangladesh wins a match, but unfortunately he is not entirely familiar among the national cricketers, or the top BCB officials.
“My eyes swell up tears whenever Bangladesh wins a match”, Khalu stated how good it feels while speaking to UNB, making time amidst a busy schedule at Mirpur Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
This benign lover of cricket receives an astonishing 40 to 70 calls a day from journalists, who call him first for primary information relating to BCB’s regular events, with no restriction as to any specific calling hours.
“I receive 40 to 70 phone calls in each day from journalists and provide them necessary information. I enjoy talking to journalists,” Khalu expressed how tiresome his workload is, which begins a few days before a match.
“But I forget everything whenever Bangladesh seals a victory,” Khalu shared.
“I want to keep myself busy to serve for BCB and remain involved with cricket for as long as I can and as much as Almighty Allah wants,” Khalu replied in a query to UNB.
Father to a daughter and a son, when he was asked whether his post should be regularised or not, he replied humbly that it is up to BCB, not him. “If they do so, of course I’ll be happy, but there is no such demand from my side.”
He recalled that he got his nickname ‘Khalu’ from his friend’s son, Mithu, also a BCB member, who used the term to introduce him to all the BCB officials and journalists initially. The name struck since then.
Born in Kulaura, the biggest upazila of the north-eastern Moulvibazar district with the largest marsh wetland Hakaluki Haor in Sylhet, he grew up in Dhaka’s Rayerbazar area, but currently resides in Mirpur.
Prominent sports journalist Aghore Mondal, who is now a sports editor in a satellite television channel, told about Khalu’s cordial assistance to media men as part of BCB media cell.
Aghore said, “I know the man for around two decades, found him as a part and parcel of BCB media cell. He has witnessed all well and woe of BCB, but never be tired out to serve as media assistance. Two generations journalists accepted and address him as Khalu what is a great achievement a man like Mustafizur Rahman. Honestly he likes cricket very much, I think.” Aghore added.
Associated Press (AP) Bureau Chief of Bangladesh Julhas Alam, who once worked as sports reporter, also impressed on Khalu’s performance.
“I observed him closely, I thought, how a man like Khalu extended his helping hand all the time to co-operate others and maintained warm relations,” Julhas said.
Terming him as Khalu, Pavel Rahman a renowned photographer introduced Julhas with Mustafizur Rahman in 2011. Julhas recalled and shared that how he experienced his (Khalu) great caring and hospitality when one of his (Julhas) British colleagues became sick during the Cricket World Cup 2011.
Both Aghore and Julhas thought that there will be no loss, but profit, if BCB creates permanent posts and recruits some people like Khalu for such services.
Only loving the game of cricket, Mustafizur Rahman has been working with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) since 1996 strictly on a ‘no work no pay’ basis. He has, over time, received continuous support from BCB’s media wing, as well as the committee.
Not expecting many benefits for what he does, Mustafizur Rahman who popularly known as benign and agile “Khalu of BCB” among all the sports journalists in the country especially who covers cricket, has been serving as a media assistance at BCB for almost two decades now.
Mustafizur, 50, spent his time at all the cricket venues across the country, but never receiving an overseas assignment.
Khalu expressed his gratitude to incumbent BCB Media and Communication Committee Chairman Jalal Yunus who picked him up as a chief technical assistant for media help during the Mini Cricket World Cup in 1998.
‘Jalal Bhai picked me up to serve for BCB as media assistant back then,’ Khalu said.
He used to play cricket during his student life, hence his weakness for cricket led him to working at BCB. His usual day-to-day job is as a supervisor at Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd (BTCL) the then T&T.
Khalu is a highly fond of Bangladeshi cricket, even now his eyes swell in tears whenever Bangladesh wins a match, but unfortunately he is not entirely familiar among the national cricketers, or the top BCB officials.
“My eyes swell up tears whenever Bangladesh wins a match”, Khalu stated how good it feels while speaking to UNB, making time amidst a busy schedule at Mirpur Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
This benign lover of cricket receives an astonishing 40 to 70 calls a day from journalists, who call him first for primary information relating to BCB’s regular events, with no restriction as to any specific calling hours.
“I receive 40 to 70 phone calls in each day from journalists and provide them necessary information. I enjoy talking to journalists,” Khalu expressed how tiresome his workload is, which begins a few days before a match.
“But I forget everything whenever Bangladesh seals a victory,” Khalu shared.
“I want to keep myself busy to serve for BCB and remain involved with cricket for as long as I can and as much as Almighty Allah wants,” Khalu replied in a query to UNB.
Father to a daughter and a son, when he was asked whether his post should be regularised or not, he replied humbly that it is up to BCB, not him. “If they do so, of course I’ll be happy, but there is no such demand from my side.”
He recalled that he got his nickname ‘Khalu’ from his friend’s son, Mithu, also a BCB member, who used the term to introduce him to all the BCB officials and journalists initially. The name struck since then.
Born in Kulaura, the biggest upazila of the north-eastern Moulvibazar district with the largest marsh wetland Hakaluki Haor in Sylhet, he grew up in Dhaka’s Rayerbazar area, but currently resides in Mirpur.
Prominent sports journalist Aghore Mondal, who is now a sports editor in a satellite television channel, told about Khalu’s cordial assistance to media men as part of BCB media cell.
Aghore said, “I know the man for around two decades, found him as a part and parcel of BCB media cell. He has witnessed all well and woe of BCB, but never be tired out to serve as media assistance. Two generations journalists accepted and address him as Khalu what is a great achievement a man like Mustafizur Rahman. Honestly he likes cricket very much, I think.” Aghore added.
Associated Press (AP) Bureau Chief of Bangladesh Julhas Alam, who once worked as sports reporter, also impressed on Khalu’s performance.
“I observed him closely, I thought, how a man like Khalu extended his helping hand all the time to co-operate others and maintained warm relations,” Julhas said.
Terming him as Khalu, Pavel Rahman a renowned photographer introduced Julhas with Mustafizur Rahman in 2011. Julhas recalled and shared that how he experienced his (Khalu) great caring and hospitality when one of his (Julhas) British colleagues became sick during the Cricket World Cup 2011.
Both Aghore and Julhas thought that there will be no loss, but profit, if BCB creates permanent posts and recruits some people like Khalu for such services.
