Stage set for WCC
Beautification work progressing
The mega city of Dhaka is turning to a colourful city as the beautification works are going on in full swing while the zero hour to kick off the much-awaited ICC World Cup Cricket at Bangabandhu National Stadium is approaching.
Organisers have been expecting that the capital city of Dhaka would take a festive mood after completion of the beautician works being carried out under different projects taken by separate ministries and department including Bangladesh Army.
Several beautification projects specially cosmetic improvement, supervised by local authorities and the ministry of Tourism, are now under way to give Dhaka city a glamourous look on the eve of upcoming global cricket festival.
Officials and employees of different ministries are now working day and night to set up the stage for the colorful grand gala show of opening ceremony of the ICC World Cup Cricket at Bangabandhu National Stadium on February 17.
Residents of Dhaka are also taking final preparation for offering a dazzling welcome to the guest players, as well as international spectators on their homeland on the eve of historic event.
Decorative lights are now setting between newly painted lampposts beside yellow marking city roads as the members of army engineering core already have completed a project including road carpeting, footpath repairing, drainage and development of road dividers and beautification of 4.66 lakh square metre road and footpath.
High-rise offices and roadside shops are now gleaming in their new coats of paint while homes, guest houses, hotels, restaurants and other establishments have already taken a smart look ahead of the international event.
Fresh looking automobiles are encouraged to run on the roads during the event. Besides, dilapidated vehicles specially old buses have been put under restriction plying on the city roads, and makeshift shops have been bulldozed to reduce the congestion in the streets.
Bohemians, beggars and hawkers are also asked not to remain visible on the stunning city walkways at that time.
Not only that, the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has taken special measures regarding beautification where fine dressed officials will receive the international guests from across the globe.
A big logo of ICC along with cricket bats, and banners signing message-‘welcome to our land’ from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCC) are seen displaying at the VIP lounges of airport.
Secretary of Civil Aviation & Tourism Shafique Alam Mehdi told The New Nation Saturday, “We have taken several projects to promote out country in the international arena during the World Cup Cricket.”
“Bill boards, television commercials, tour packages, site seeing, cultural shows and several other programmes have taken under the project on the eve of the historic event. Besides, we have made a deal with the ICC at a cost of Taka 7 crore to promote our tourist spots through TV commercials during live telecast by ESPN ans Star Sports channels,” Shafique Alam Mehdi further said.
Dhaka City Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka said, “We hope that the works will be completed in due time. We are also prepared to meet the challenge as this World Cup will be the important moment in the country’s history and also of our cricket.”
According to sources, the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has spent over Taka 533 crore on renovating roads and decorating its streets.
Besides, some private business farms have also contributed to the beautification projects by sponsoring colourful hoardings, banners, neon signs, monuments, murals and other decorations in the city, sources added.
