Bangladesh Hockey Federation has taken initiatives to make the hockey arena active again, and set the target of holding the Premier Division Hockey League in October after two years.
“The clubs have been asked to send names of their representatives by September 14. The date will be set after discussing with them. We have decided in principle to start the league in October-November,” BHF’s Mohammad Yusuf told Dhaka Tribune.
Yusuf has been acting general secretary of the federation since September last year when former general secretary AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed fled the country after being charged of illegal casino business.
BHF recently terminated Sayeed from the post as he was absent in three consecutive executive committee meetings and spent more than six months outside the country, in the process violating the constitution, informed Yusuf.
Yusuf hoped that if they start the premier league early it would help the senior team get prepared for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held from March 11-24.
There has been no game or training at the country’s prime hockey venue, Maulana Bhasani National Stadium in last five months due to the pandemic.
The blue turf, installed in 2014, is covered with dust Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
The blue turf installed in 2014 has been layered with dust for a long time.
The acting GS said, “The turf is almost new. We did maintenance work regularly. It just needs to be cleaned before the start of the tournament.”
Dhaka was scheduled to host the Junior Asia Cup Hockey from June 4-12 but got postponed due to Covid-19.
Rescheduled fixtures have been set for January 21-30, 2020.
Yusuf said ahead of the event, the U-21 team started practice at the Bangabandhu Air Force base in the capital with 20 players.
