Popular YouTuber Ashraful Islam alias Hero Alam has demanded a resumption of BCB's activities and sports activities at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
“Otherwise it will be a place for gambling or cattle market,” said Hero Alam.
He made this demand in a human chain organized on his own initiative in the stadium premises on Tuesday.
The removal of 17 officials of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and equipment from the stadium is a shame for the people of Bogra, said Alam.
“Has there been any development in the district in the last 15 years? What has been given to the people of Bogra,” asked Hero Alam.
“Awami League candidate Ragebul Ahsan Ripu has been elected MP to Bogra Sadar seat in the by-election recently after 50 years….I would like to tell him that the people of Bogra have cast votes for you to take the responsibility of protecting them. How did BCB withdraw everything from the stadium when you were in charge? In these long 15 years you have not given any national game in Bogra. Cows and calves are reared and paddy cultivated at Bogra airport. Now there is only one medical. We do not get any university, though there is a long demand for it.”
Hero Alam also said that a syndicate is working against Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium. They do not want any stadium in Bogra. They want everyone to leave the stadium. And when the stadium will remain vacant without any sports event, those people will set up gambling boards in the field, will try to arrange fairs and cattle markets.
He asked whether the stadium is for holding fair, for the cattle market and gambling boards.
The syndicate wants the stadium to remain vacant. Then they will do whatever they want by taking the stadium lease for 99 years, said Hero Alam.
In response to a question, Hero Alam said, BCB has no fault in handing over Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium to National Sports Council (NSC). They tried to work here. But that syndicate is obstructing them. They are the ones who have blocked the BCB game by writing a letter not to arrange any sports event.
In response to the journalists' questions about this syndicate, Hero Alam said: "You all know about that. I don't want to mention their names now.”
After the human chain, Hero Alam visited Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium with others.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has recently decided to hand over the responsibilities of Bogra's Shaheed Chandu Stadium to the National Sports Council.
A letter sent to the secretary of the council on Thursday last, mentioned that Shaheed Chandu Stadium has been maintained by the BCB for a long time. A significant number of domestic and international cricket leagues or tournaments have been organized there. However, due to the non-cooperation of the Bogra District Sports Association for the past few years, the BCB has failed to organize tournaments or leagues regularly.
All BCB officials working at the stadium have already been transferred to another venue. A total of 17 officials and employees, including the venue manager appointed by the BCB, have been transferred already.
Regarding the allegation of non-cooperation, Bogra District Sports Association General Secretary Masudur Rahman Milan said the accusation is baseless.
Meanwhile, this news has caused disappointment among players and cricket lovers in the district.
They also urged the BCB to reassess the decision to hand over the responsibilities of the stadium to the NSC.
The venue held three group-stage matches of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2004, giving it its first exposure to a global audience.
It was finally granted full international status in January 2006, ahead of Sri Lanka's visit to the country.
After receiving ICC recognition, only one test and five ODIs were organized there. The stadium has only hosted domestic cricket matches ever since.
Meanwhile, Star wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim's father Mahbub Habib Tara expressed his earnest desire to see his son play his final international game at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
His father inaugurated a mass signature campaign demanding the reinstatement of the stadium as a venue under BCB.