BOA yet to finalise events, sponsors back out from promise
With barely two weeks to go, the preparation for the forthcoming Bangladesh Games is yet to gather any momentum as most works are still confined in the table.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association is scheduled to orgnaise the event from April 20 to 28 after more than a decade, but surprisingly the number of total events is yet to be finalised.
The absence of BOA secretary-general Syed Shahed Reza, who is Bangladesh’s ambassador to Kuwait, has also created many obstacles as officials said they are unable to take many crucial decisions without him.
A powerful organising committee, headed by finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, and 14 other sub-committees held a series of meetings without any meaningful progress.
A lot of issues, ranging from the poor state of the games torch and the preparation of the venues are yet to finalised, leaving the participating teams and many other parties involved confused.
The BOA planned to hold the meet with pomp and grandeur and earmarked a budget of around Tk 20 crore for the opening ceremony, but officials said, apart from the government allocation of Tk 5 crore, they are yet to receive any fund.
Harunur Rashid, the steering committee chairman, said they are unlikely to get the funds as some sponsors have already turned down their request despite making a promise earlier.
‘We were promised by a mobile operator of Tk 5 crore, but they have now backed out from the promise. A leading private bank had promised Tk 2 crore, but now they are saying they could at best provide half the promised amount,’ he said.
The Bankers Association of Bangladesh promised to give Tk 10 crore, but Harun said they are yet to receive any money from them. Similarly no money was received from the state-owned commercial banks and financial institutions despite them promising to pay Tk 5 crore.
With the lack of funds and the absence of the secretary general, officials said they are unable to start many works including the refurbishment of some key venues.
The cauldron at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) has remained out of order since the 2010 South Asian Games. The gas line was disconnected after the SA Games and also the escalator leading to the torch is not ready for use.
Administrator of the BNS Mohammed Yahia said that he has yet to get any order from the National Sports Council to make the torch useable.
Besides the opening ceremony, the three most important disciplines – athletics, football and cycling – will also take place in the big bowl. But the condition of the synthetic athletic track is quite horrible as big holes and cracks have developed all around the turf in recent times.
Around 7,000 athletes and 2,000 officials are expected to be involved in the games.
The BOA said the arrangement for accommodation of the players and officials were given to the concerned federations. But some federations have allegedly sent an exaggerated budget for the purpose, leaving the BOA in a fix.
-With New Age input
