সোমবার, ২৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০০৯

Bangla Games open today

The 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games will kick off today with the Bengali speaking neighbours of Bangladesh and India competing for glory in nine sport disciplines.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will inaugurate the five-day meet at 3.30pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium amid fanfare.

Bangladesh Television and ATN Bangla will telecast the gala opening ceremony live.

The competition of the Games of Friendship, however, will begin tomorrow in Dhaka and its adjacent districts.

67 GOLD
A total of 67 gold medals will be at stake in athletics, swimming, shooting, football (men’s and women’s), volleyball, kabaddi, basketball, kho kho and cricket — which makes its debut in the game sin the form of Twenty20 — over 400 athletes from the two contingents.

Bangladesh had won 30 gold medals against West Bengal’s 38 in the first version of the Games in Kolkata two years back but this time, the hosts are eyeing 40 gold medals in familiar conditions.

DOWN MEMORY LANE
The visiting team, which received warm welcomes on way to the capital from Benapole border, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday night and spent a memorable day yesterday.

It was part of the plan that the athletes from the other side of the border will observe ‘Amar Ekushey’ and the International Mother Language Day. The visitors were overwhelmed by the way Bangladeshis pay tribute to the language martyrs and had an absorbing experience after placing floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar last morning.

“I would have never understood the passion that the people of Bangladesh show on ‘Ekushey February’. The discipline they show is also exemplary,” said West Bengal contingent’s Chef-de-Mission Zulfiqar Hassan, who led the team’s ‘Prabhat Ferry’.

“We are grateful to the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) for organising this trip and give us a chance to get involved,” said Bengal Olympic Association’s secretary general Kamolesh Chatterjee.

The athletes on the other hand, walked down memory lane, especially those whose ancestors belonged to this part of Bengal.

Jahar Das, whose father came from Tangail and mother from Jamalpur, told he would never forget the visit to the Shaheed Minar.

Tapan Ganguly felt he was at home after passing through Madaripur, the land of his forefathers, on way to Dhaka.

Rahmatullah, who finished third in men’s 100m in India’s National Athletics, has travelled a lot but felt he belonged to this place. “The way the people greeted us from the street side, I was enthralled,” said the sprinter.

REWARDS
The local swimmers winning gold will get Tk 5,000 as reward, announced Bangladesh Swimming Federation’s vice-president Mahbubur Rahman Shahin. The silver medallists will get Tk 3,000 and a bronze winner Tk 2,000.

TICKETS
The gallery tickets for the opening ceremony will cost Tk 20 each. The spectators will not only be able to enjoy paratrooper landing and displays during a marathon opening ceremony but also a concert by leading band singer Ayub Bachchu, who also performs the Games theme song. The entire gate money will be donated to the cyclone Sidr victims.

THE SCHEDULE
Athletics: Feb 23, 24 (Army Stadium, Dhaka)
Swimming: Feb 23-25 (Mirpur)
Shooting: Feb 23-25 (BKSP)
Volleyball: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka, Gazipur)
Kabaddi: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka)
Cricket: Feb 23, 24, 25 (Bogra, Rajshahi, Fatullah)
Kho kho: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka)
Men’s football: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka, Narshingdi)
Women’s football: Feb 23-25 (Narshingdi, Narayanganj, Dhaka)
Basketball: Feb 23-25 (Mirpur, BKSP)

Awaiting a revival

If it is a matter of confidence then there was no shortage of it for the home side prior to the start of the first Test against the formidable South Africa.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful sounded lofty despite their disastrous performances in Sri Lanka and New Zealand and their record against the Proteas is more than lacklustre with innings defeats in all fours Tests previously played.

The performance in the three-day warm-up match at Fatullah and their hard but different match practices during training under Jamie Siddons were two major issues, which inspired the Tigers skipper to talk positive.

“We had a very poor Test series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. But the result of the hard work will be seen from this series. It was really inspiring for us to see the way some of the boys played in the three-day practice match,” said Ashraful in a pre-match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

It was a perfect practice for most of the Tigers when the strong South African bowling attack were under the cosh as the home team posted a mammoth 412 in little more than a hundred overs.

The obvious question to the Bangladesh captain was whether he expects the same outcome in the Tests too.

“Not only that, but I am expecting a better show,” was Ashraful’s answer.

The Bangladesh skipper was also confident enough to say that they will be able to change the hearts of the critics in the series.

“We have been going through a very bad time since an impressive World Cup and understandably there has been a lot of criticism regarding our ability. But I am very confident that we will be able to play quality cricket in the series, which will give the critics an impression that we are improving,” he assured.

But the experienced campaigner was wise enough to understand the fact that his batsmen, including himself, should have scored reasonable runs to fulfil the desire.

“What I firmly believe is that our bowlers have the ability — particularly in this kind of conditions — to take 20 wickets but we need contributions from our batsmen. You know, batting is our main headache and the first innings is very important for us,” he observed.

Siddons was also looking forward to seeing his charges improve in the series in his first home assignment, second overall, with the Tigers.

“The boys trained in this venue for the last two months and I am impressed by the batsmen’s application in the practice match. The players already proved that they are good enough to play against a team like South Africa. I hope it will be a good Test match,” Siddons said.

The Australian however warned his boys about the strength of the opponents.

“South Africa are going to be a step up from New Zealand and we will have to play really well to pose any kind of threat to them,” he said referring to the team’s huge defeats in their previous two Tests against the Kiwis.

Like his skipper, Siddons also tried to take inspiration from the impressive show in the three-day practice match at Fatullah.

“The practice match where we posted a reasonable total showed us that the result will take care of itself if we play the game well,” he added.

Now everybody will be looking forward to see whether the home team can carry their practice match’s good show to the battle proper.

The 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games

The 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games will kick off today with the Bengali speaking neighbours of Bangladesh and India competing for glory in nine sport disciplines.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will inaugurate the five-day meet at 3.30pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium amid fanfare.

Bangladesh Television and ATN Bangla will telecast the gala opening ceremony live.

The competition of the Games of Friendship, however, will begin tomorrow in Dhaka and its adjacent districts.

67 GOLD
A total of 67 gold medals will be at stake in athletics, swimming, shooting, football (men’s and women’s), volleyball, kabaddi, basketball, kho kho and cricket — which makes its debut in the game sin the form of Twenty20 — over 400 athletes from the two contingents.

Bangladesh had won 30 gold medals against West Bengal’s 38 in the first version of the Games in Kolkata two years back but this time, the hosts are eyeing 40 gold medals in familiar conditions.

DOWN MEMORY LANE
The visiting team, which received warm welcomes on way to the capital from Benapole border, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday night and spent a memorable day yesterday.

It was part of the plan that the athletes from the other side of the border will observe ‘Amar Ekushey’ and the International Mother Language Day. The visitors were overwhelmed by the way Bangladeshis pay tribute to the language martyrs and had an absorbing experience after placing floral wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar last morning.

“I would have never understood the passion that the people of Bangladesh show on ‘Ekushey February’. The discipline they show is also exemplary,” said West Bengal contingent’s Chef-de-Mission Zulfiqar Hassan, who led the team’s ‘Prabhat Ferry’.

“We are grateful to the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) for organising this trip and give us a chance to get involved,” said Bengal Olympic Association’s secretary general Kamolesh Chatterjee.

The athletes on the other hand, walked down memory lane, especially those whose ancestors belonged to this part of Bengal.

Jahar Das, whose father came from Tangail and mother from Jamalpur, told he would never forget the visit to the Shaheed Minar.

Tapan Ganguly felt he was at home after passing through Madaripur, the land of his forefathers, on way to Dhaka.

Rahmatullah, who finished third in men’s 100m in India’s National Athletics, has travelled a lot but felt he belonged to this place. “The way the people greeted us from the street side, I was enthralled,” said the sprinter.

REWARDS
The local swimmers winning gold will get Tk 5,000 as reward, announced Bangladesh Swimming Federation’s vice-president Mahbubur Rahman Shahin. The silver medallists will get Tk 3,000 and a bronze winner Tk 2,000.

TICKETS
The gallery tickets for the opening ceremony will cost Tk 20 each. The spectators will not only be able to enjoy paratrooper landing and displays during a marathon opening ceremony but also a concert by leading band singer Ayub Bachchu, who also performs the Games theme song. The entire gate money will be donated to the cyclone Sidr victims.

THE SCHEDULE
Athletics: Feb 23, 24 (Army Stadium, Dhaka)
Swimming: Feb 23-25 (Mirpur)
Shooting: Feb 23-25 (BKSP)
Volleyball: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka, Gazipur)
Kabaddi: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka)
Cricket: Feb 23, 24, 25 (Bogra, Rajshahi, Fatullah)
Kho kho: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka)
Men’s football: Feb 23-25 (Dhaka, Narshingdi)
Women’s football: Feb 23-25 (Narshingdi, Narayanganj, Dhaka)
Basketball: Feb 23-25 (Mirpur, BKSP)

Bangladesh : Health & Sports

During the nineties, considerable progress has been achieved in Bangladesh in the fields of Health and Family Welfare. The Immunization Program, which has been acclaimed worldwide, now covers 70% of children compared to 55% in 1990-91. Primary Health-care facilities have been expanded throughout the country. Infant and maternal mortality rates have come down dramatically. Contraceptive Prevalence Rate has increased to around 50 percent, as a result of which population growth rate is now below 2 percent.

The Government is actively involved in providing primary health care facilities though Union and Thana Health Complexes, secondary health care facilities through District level hospitals, and tertiary health-care facilities through Medical College Hospitals, Post-graduate Institutes and specialized hospitals at divisional and national levels.

Apart from Government initiatives, a good number of NGOs and private organizations are playing an important role in the health sector. Clinic facilities, health care services on immunization, MCH-FP, Nutrition, Health-education, provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, control of epidemics and endemic diseases, supply of essential drugs, ect. Are some of the fields in which they are working.

Sports

The people of Bangladesh are sports-loving people. The government has also attached due importance to development of games and sports. Football, Cricket. Hockey. Swimming and Rowing, Kahaddi. Volleyball, Badminton, Basketball, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis and Chess are popular games in the country.

The strategies and programs pursued by the present government for development of sports include : Development of selected indigenous less costly games and sports for wider mass participation specially in rural areas; Encouraging female participation at all levels of games and sports; Consolidation and better utilization of existing sports facilities; Strengthening the existing College of Physical Education and establishment of additional colleges; Construction of more women's sports complexes, Regular training sessions and workshops on sports; Holding of national zonal and regional sports competition.

ns regularly: Intensive training programs for sports talents; Provision of sufficient numbers of playgrounds, indoor stadiums and other sports facilities in each district and thana: Distribution of sports gears to facilitate sports activities in the country

A National Sports Policy has been announced by the government recently. The government has also taken up plans to develop playing fields in all the unions of the Country. There are clear signs of resurgence from past Stagnation in the sporting arena. Bangladesh for the first time became champions in 1997 ICC trophy cricket championship, thereby hooking a place for 1999 World Cup Cricket finals.

Bangladesh Olympic Association

National Sports Council Bhaban (NSC Bhaban)
62/3, Purana Paltan, Dhaka – 1000
Bangladesh.
Telephone :+88-02-9560369,Fax :+88-02-9563304
e-mail:info@boa.com
Website Address:www.boa.com
Hotline:+88-02-9560369

President :
General Moeen U Ahmed, ndc,psc Contact Number: +8802 8752000/8752001
Vice President : Maj. General Ashabuddin, ndc,psc, Khandaker Jamil Uddin, Mizanur Rahman Manu, Mushfeka Iqfat and Sirajul Islam Bachchu
General Secretary :
Kutubuddin Ahmed Contact Number: +88-02-9560369
Joint Sectary : Lt. Cdr. A.K. Sarker (Retd), Ferdows Ara Khanam and Md. Anisur Rahman (1)
Treasurer : Md. Sanaul Haque
Members : Abdul Awal Mojnu, Md. Abdul Quader, Khandaker Hasan Munir, Md. Hasanullah Khan Rana, Wing. Cdr. Mohiuddin Ahmed (Retd), Mahmudul Islam Rana, Adv. Md. Monirul Haque Bachchu, Mosharrof Hossain Shamim, N.S. Ishrafil, Parvez Hasan, Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapal, Md. Nazrul Islam, K.U. Aksir, Lily Aziz, Asaduzzaman Khasru, Ashraf-Ud-Dowla, Kamrun Nahar Dana, Lt. Col. A.K.M. Golam Rabbani, psc, Md. Haiyul Kayyum, Md. Anisur Rahman (2), Md Jubaidur Rahman Rana and Jobaira Rahman Linu
Description : Aims and Objectives :

The Bangladesh Olympic Association shall have, among others, following Aims and Missions:
- to develop and protect the Olympic movement in Bangladesh, in accordance with the Olympic charters;
In order fulfil BOA’s mission, the BOA may co-operate with government or non-government bodies. However, BOA must never associate them selves with any activity which would be in contradiction with the Olympic Charter;
- to propagate the principles of Olympism at national level within the framework of sports activity and otherwise contribute, among other things, to the diffusion of Olympism in the teaching programmes of physical education and sport in schools and university establishments. Creating of institutions which devote themselves to Olympic education. In particular, the establishment and activities of National Olympic Academies, Olympic Museums and cultural programmes relates to the Olympic Movement.
- to ensure the development and promotion of the sport in general;
- to observe and enforce the Rules as laid down in the Olympic Charter;
- to disseminate among young people and interest in sport and a sporting spirit;
- to organize together with the respective national federations the preparation and selection of athletes, thereby ensuring that Bangladesh is represented at the Olympic Games, as well as at regional (SAFF), continental and international games having the patronage of the lOC;
- to undertake the organization of these Games when they are held in Bangladesh;
- to submit proposals to the international Olympic Committee with regard to the Olympic Charter, the Olympic Movement in general as well as the organization and conduct of the Olympic games;
- to work to maintain harmonious and cooperative relations with appropriate government bodies for designing and implementing a sound sports policy in Bangladesh.
- to safeguard its absolute autonomy in line with Olympic Charter and resist any out side pressure including those of a political, religious or economic nature that may prevent BOA from complying with Olympic Charter.
- to fight against the use of substances and procedures prohibited by the IOC or the IFs and in this regards, to ensure the observance of the Olympic Movement anti doping code which provisions shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to all persons and competitions under the BOA jurisdiction;
- to promote and participate in various social, cultural, educational, philatelic fine arts and environmental outreach programmes related to Olympic Movement.
- to help in the training athletes, coaches and sports administrators through courses to promote developments of games and sports in Bangladesh and also to propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism through participation in the programmes of Olympic Solidarity;
- to promote fair play and take actions against any form of discrimination and violence in games and sports on grounds of race, religion, politics, sex or otherwise;
- to organize the quadrennial national sports festival known as the Bangladesh Games;
- to liaise between IOC and NFs and also IFs and NFs when required;
- to raise funds for carrying out the above aims and objective of BOA.

Shirin, Mezbah win 100m titles

Shirin Akhter and Mezbah Ahmed of BKSP emerged as the fastest sprinters in the boys' and girls' events while Taslima Akhter of BKSP and Farukul Islam of Comilla won the 100 metre of the youth group on the second and final day of the Dhaka Bank National Junior Athletics on Sunday.

A total of 304 athletes from 38 teams participated in the two-day meet. The minister for labour and employment, Mosharraf Hossain, distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Altaf Hossain Sarker, the chairman of Dhaka Bank, was also present.