National cricketer Nasir Hossain has said that Tamima Sultana Tammi married him after divorcing her husband Md Rakib Hasan.
Supporting Nasir’s claim, Tamima has also said that she divorced Rakib in 2017.
“I was married to Rakib and yes, we have a child together. Everything else that Rakib has said are lies,” she claimed.
The newly married couple, flanked by their lawyers, made the claims at a press briefing in Dhaka on Wednesday, few days after controversy clouded the sanctity and legality of their marriage.
They had come under heavy criticism following their lavish wedding on February 14 and Rakib’s allegation that Tamima was still married to him.
At the beginning of Wednesday’s briefing, the couple addressed the controversy and maintained that their marriage was legal. Afterwards, they answered questions from journalists.
Responding to a query, Nasir said he married Tamima following all legal procedures, religious etiquettes and after informing everyone.
"But Rakib is now spreading false information. Everyone knew that Nasir and I were getting married. I don't know what happened to Rakib after I got engaged with Nasir," Tamima claimed.
As Tamima is now his legal wife, he said he will take action against online news defaming her or anyone making derogatory comments about her on social media.
"She [Tamima] is my wife now. I will take legal action against Rakib or anyone who speaks ill about my wife,” said the Bangladesh all-rounder.
Also Read - Case filed against Nasir, Tamima
Nasir urged all to refrain from spreading misinformation and rumour regarding Tamima. He also requested media outlets to be more responsible and publish authentic information.
Earlier in the day, Tamima's first husband Rakib filed a case against Nasir and Tamima with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim.
After recording Rakib’s statement, the court directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate and submit its report on March 30.
The wedding ceremony of Nasir and Tamima was held at a restaurant in Uttara on February 14.
File photo of Nasir Hossain and his wife Tamima Sultana Bangla Tribune
After the news of their marriage broke, it was alleged that Tamima, who works as a cabin crew in a foreign airline, married Nasir without divorcing Rakib.
The news immediately went viral on social media and drew much criticism from various quarters. Subsequently, Rakib also appeared on various platforms and claimed that Tamima was still married to him.
Rakib later filed a general diary at Uttara West police station, which said he has been married to Tamima for 11 years, they have an eight-year-old daughter together, and Tamima married Nasir without divorcing Rakib.
Nasir, who debuted for the Tigers against Zimbabwe in August 2011, has been out of the national team since 2018.
He played the last Test for Bangladesh during Australia’s visit in September 2017 and the last ODI during Sri Lanka’s visit in January 2018.
Since 2018, he has played first-class matches and fifty overs game in the domestic leagues, performing below average. Backed by a deteriorating fitness, Nasir also failed to make it back to the national team in recent years.
