Wills Cup Triggers Political Dispute (16 October 1998)
Wills International Cup Cricket has triggerred widesprad political dispute in this poor south Asian country that always runs with turmoil and instability due to street demonstrations by opposition during every government
16-Oct-1998
16 October 1998
Wills Cup Triggers Political Dispute
by Zahid Newaz in Dhaka
Wills International Cup Cricket has triggerred widesprad political dispute
in this poor south Asian country that always runs with turmoil and
instability due to street demonstrations by opposition during every
government.
In latest development, main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
and its six small allies have called for a general strike, known as hartal
in the sub-continent, on October 18 as the government refused to allow
them to stage a hunger strike on the day.
Their mass hunger strike was scheduled at `Paltan Maidan', just adjacent
to Bangabandhu National Stadium, the venue for the knock-out basis world
cup. The huge ground is a popular venue for political demonstration since
British rule.
National Sports Council, authorities of the `Paltan Maidan', denied to
allow BNP and its allies to stage the hunger strike saying it would hamper
preparations for the tournament. The NSC also disallowed ruling Awami
League's student wing to hold its conference there.
Immediately after NSC's refusal reached to the opposition parties, they
met in an emergency meeting Tuesday evening and called for the daylong
strike on the day when Zimbabwe and England teams are scheduled to reach
Dhaka for the biggest crickting show in the country.
Asked if they will allow the two teams scheduled to arrive on strike day
to travel to the hotel from the airport, BNP Secretary General Abdul
Mannan Bhuiyan MP said: It's the responsibility of the government, not of
us.
He also said the government refusal came despite BNP leader and former
Sports Minister Sadek Hossain Khoka extended total support for successful
holding of the tourney and assured that the hunger strike will be
peaceful.
"We are fully aware of significacne of the Wills Cup which will earn
honour and prestige for the country... We have been compelled to call
hartal (strike) as there was no other alternative," said the BNP Secretary
General.
Another top BNP leader Abdus Salam Talukdar said: It's our beyond
comprehension how a soft poilitical programme like hunger strike will
hinder preparations for the Wills Cup. But the government refused to allow
it as provocation to a conflict.
Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia termed the
denial to allow a hunger strike "in the name of cricket as returned to
Soviet-styled one-party rule that the present ruling party did in 70's
under the banner of BAKSAL."