Why I won’t boycott Qatar World Cup

European countries reap economic benefits from impoverished African nations. They provide weapons to various rebel groups, send armies to protect European corporations, extract natural minerals and collect tax from former colonies. Europeans do business worth billions of dollars with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Americans and Europeans are doing business with proven violators of workers' rights. Bangladeshis have failed their immigrant brothers and sisters. They turn a blind eye to the problems of the poor working class. The World Cup is a time of worldwide celebration. If someone wants to boycott it, it is their choice. We need not follow your misconstrued neoliberal agenda.

Fawaz Rob is the CEO of Bangla Bari Ltd, an organisation to promote sustainable architecture in rural Bangladesh. He has taught architecture for 10 years.