The Bangladesh Hockey Federation received a green signal from the ministry of finance regarding financial assistance to install a new synthetic turf at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium, said an official on Wednesday. Federation of International Hockey president Leandro Negre had announced during his Dhaka visit in February that he would help the Bangladesh Hockey Federation in laying a synthetic turf at the country’s premium hockey venue.
After Negre’s visit the FIH informed that the International Olympic Committee has agreed to provide Bangladesh $1,50,000 for a turf and the ruling body of world hokey will add $75,000 to the amount. Bangladesh has to pay $75000, one-fourth of the price of the turf.
The FIH also promised to provide technical support to relocate the existing turf from Dhaka to Dinajpur BKSP.
The BHF submitted an initial budget of Tk 6.10 crore to the ministry of sports to establish the new turf and relocate the old one. The sports ministry forwarded the budget to ministry of finance, which had initially rejected the proposal.
But one of the top BHF officials, seeking anonymity, told New Age that they convinced the finance secretary after the initial refusal message and the secretary [Fazle Kabir] finally agreed to support the game.
`To establish the synthetic turf at Savar BKSP, the government had to spend Tk 10 crore few years ago but the FIH agreed to give us a new turf only at an expense of $75,000,’ he said.
‘We convinced the finance secretary to give financial assistance and he verbally agreed to give the money in two instalments,’ said the official.
`Our president [Air Marshal Enamul Bari] also talked with the finance secretary personally and the sports ministry will send the proposal to the finance ministry again.’
According the official,
the finance secretary promised that Tk 1crore 10 lakh will be paid in the first instalment and the rest of Tk 5 crore will be provided once the old turf is installed at the Dinajpur BKSP.
The BHF official added that they are hopeful of starting the installation work by the end of the March after the Asian Games Qualifying round.
`FIH wants to send their representatives to inspect the Dinajpur BKSP but due to the country’s political situation we are yet to give them any schedule,’ said the official.
`FIH president (Leandro Negre) will come to Dhaka to inaugurate the National School Tournament on February 1 and we want him to inaugurate the installation work during his visit,’ he said.
-With New Age input
