No plan to cancel trip yet
Bangladesh has no plan to cancel or postpone their trip to Common-wealth Games in New Delhi despite an uncertainty hovering over the meet for security and health concerns, officials said on Thursday.
New Zealand joined Canada and Scotland in delaying departure for New Delhi due to poor accommodation facilities in the Games village for athletes, compounded by heavy monsoon rains and a dengue epidemic.
Australian prime minister Julia Gillard highlighted security fears surrounding the Games and said the athletes should decide themselves whether to attend or not dealing another blow to October 3-14 meet.
‘We are observing the situation and are regularly in touch with our High Commission in Delhi. Until any new instruction comes from them our tour is on,’ said Col (retd) Waliullah, chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Olympic Association.
Nurul Fazal Bulbul, the Chef de Mission of Bangladesh contingent, said they are ready to travel despite all the negative reports.
‘I don’t think the situation is that bad that we have to cancel the tour. Our neighbouring country is hosting a meet and it is our duty to cooperate with them,’ Bulbul told New Age.
After many criticisms, Bangladesh’s official contingent for the Games came down to 58 members that include 37 athletes and 19 officials.
Initially the contingent had 73 members with more officials than athletes, but Bulbul said they have now excluded some top officials including the state minister for youth and sports, Ahad Ali Sarkar, and their spouses from the list.
‘They will travel as special invitees of the Games organisers, not as part of our official contingent,’ said Bulbul.
Ferdous Ara Khanam, an official of the National Shooting Federation, popularly known as Aleya Ferdousi, who was named as the general team manger of the contingent, is also unlikely to travel after controversy arose over her role in the 1971 liberation war.
The first part of the Bangladesh contingent is scheduled to leave home on September 29 while the remaining players and officials will depart on October 1.
