BFF gives WC tickets to 110 fans, officials
Only a few football fans were able to get the World Cup tickets from the Bangladesh Football Federation, said the officials, adding that most of the tickets allotted to Bangladesh were taken by influential quarters. FIFA allotted 228 tickets to Bangladesh for the tournament scheduled from June 12-July 13 in Brazil. The BFF received over 600 applications for WC tickets but only 110 applicants were given the tickets.
The successful applicants included a deputy minister, several MPs, BFF officials, businessmen and the officials of leading corporate houses.
Officials said among the successful applicants only six did not have any reference. A BFF committee selected them considering their financial strength and social status.
Officials said BFF president Kazi Salahuddin himself bought 38 tickets mainly to distribute among the sponsors and a few other well-wishers. BFF senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi, who headed the committee that selected the successful applicants, bought 18 tickets.
The deputy minister for youth and sports, Arif Khan Joy, who is also a BFF vice-president, also took several tickets.
BFF vice-presidents Badal Roy took 13 tickets and Tabith Awal took 10.
Another BFF vice-president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, also a member of the parliament, and his family members purchased several tickets, said the officials.
It could not be confirmed, however, if all five BFF vice-presidents will go to Brazil to watch the matches.
Among the members of parliaments, Shamsul Haque Chowdhury (Chittagong 12), AKM Fazlul Haque (Sherpur-3) and Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury (Noakhali-4) bought World Cup tickets.
Of the MPs, Shamsul Haque Chowdhury is a member of the BFF.
BFF’s executive members – Azmal Ahmed Tapan, Sheikh Md Maruf Hasan (Deputy Inspector General of Police) and Mohammad Iqbal Hossain bought World Cup tickets.
Current and former players Hasan Al Mamun, Abdul Gaffar, Mominul Islam Khasru, Zakir Hossain, Gausuddin and Mohammad Salahuddin also purchased World Cup tickets.
Ahmed Sazzadul Alam, a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, brought a few tickets to be part of the greatest show on earth.
The BFF also provided a ticket to Ger Soney Azevendo Brandao, a Brazilian currently living in Dhaka, who is working for the United Nation.
Only six luckiest common fans with apparently no relation with the BFF are – Abu Mohammad Tohidul Islam, Md Shafiul A Khan, Ahnaf Abrar Khan, Farhad Hossain, Shakib Altaf and Rezaul Amin.
‘I am really excited because this is the first time I will travel to Brazil to watch some World Cup matches,’ said Shakib Altaf, a deputy general manager of Grameenphone.
Altaf bought two tickets from the BFF and managed to get a few more through online. He will be part of a 13-member group, whose member had collected tickets applying to FIFA online.
‘Maybe we are the biggest group from Bangladesh to witness the World Cup in Brazil,’ said Altaf, who will fly for Brazil on June 16.
Shafiul A Khan, CEO of Versatile, a fabrics manufacturing company, will travel to Brazil along with his son Ahnaf Abrar Khan.
‘It will be a great experience for me because this is the first time I will see a World Cup match from the gallery,’ said Khan, who will watch a second round match on July 1.
‘I am sure this experience will inspire my son as well.’
The federation sold the 228 tickets for $61,000 and earned $4,500 as service charge.
-With New Age input
