Committee formed to investigate Australia bus incident

The BCB in a statement on Tuesday said it is treating the Australia cricket team bus incident with the utmost of seriousness. The board also informed that a high-power committee has been formed by the concerned security agencies to investigate and find the facts on the incident. The Aussies had suffered a scare while travelling back to their hotel from Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong after the first day’s play of the second and final Test match on Monday against Bangladesh. As per reports, a small pebble is said to have been thrown at the window of the Australia team bus, causing minor damage. No Australian player or any of the support staff were injured in the incident. The BCB has been in constant communication with the Australian management and as added assurance, security measures have been enhanced on the travelling route of the teams. According to the BCB, Australia have “expressed their satisfaction and comfort with the security operation in place and appreciated the response from the BCB and the local authorities following Monday’s incident.” It is understood that the BCB had taken added measures immediately after learning of the incident on Monday.

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Also read: CA’s Carroll expresses satisfaction with security after bus incident

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The security convoy to the field from hotel in Chittagong was beefed up for both the teams. Meanwhile, Chittagong Metropolitan Police has formed a three-member committee to probe into the allegations of stone pelting on the Australian team bus. The committee is headed by the CMP’s Deputy Commissioner (west) Faruqul Haque. Faruqul told the Dhaka Tribune that they were asked to submit the investigation report within the shortest possible time. “Allegations were raised that the bus carrying Australia were pelted with stone at Baro Quarter area under the city’s Double-Mooring police station on Monday night. The Australia team were on their way back to the hotel. The window pane of the bus was found to have scratch. We are hopeful of submitting the investigation report within the stipulated time,” said the police high-up, adding that they have ensured fool-proof security for the visiting side. On the other hand, Cricket Australia security manager Sean Carroll expressed satisfaction with the security provided so far. "Team security personnel are currently in discussion with local authorities while they investigate the cause, which is believed to have come from a small rock or stone. Bangladesh authorities are taking the incident seriously and security has been increased on the route," said Carroll to an Australia-based cricket website. The BCB was in a similar situation during the 2011 World Cup hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Bus carrying the West Indies players was stoned on its way back to the team hotel in Dhaka. There were no injuries and both Bangladesh and the Windies squads had safely reached the hotel.