Home they come to a heroes' hail (5 June 1999)
Members of Bangladesh World Cup cricket squad returned yesterday to a heroes' welcome by a nation stunned by their win against heavyweights Pakistan in the on-going World Cup cricket series
05-Jun-1999
5 June 1999
Home they come to a heroes' hail
Nazmul Ashraf
PM hands the cheques, but cricketers demand their pitch
Members of Bangladesh World Cup cricket squad returned yesterday to a
heroes' welcome by a nation stunned by their win against heavyweights
Pakistan in the on-going World Cup cricket series.
Thousands of people cheered and conveyed their warmest felicitation
to their cricket heroes at a civic reception at the Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar National Parade Square in the capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, an avid cricket fan, graced the
occasion as chief guest. "Sabash (Bravo) Bangladesh... We're a brave
nation. United we can make any impossible happen"-was her reaction to
Bangladesh's achievement.
She shook hands with team members, greeted them with bouquets and
gave gifts as promised. Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) mayor Mohammad
Hanif distributed crests among the cricketers.
Representatives also gave the team members bouquets from some
political parties and other organisations.
The huge crowd, who braved a scorching June sun waiting for hours for
the arrival of the prodigal sons, burst into cheers when a convoy of
army jeeps started approaching the dais at 11.15 am.
With the joyous crowd rallying behind, Mayor Hanif came down from the
podium to welcome the heroes, who traveled from the airport aboard
four jeeps decorated in garlands and colour ribbons. A large national
flag flew on the lead jeep carrying Captain Aminul Islam.
Hanif garlanded the cricketers and took them to the dais amid
applause and slogans for Bangladesh and its cricket heroes who waved
back to the crowd. Aminul Islam also waved a national flag.
Soon after, the cricketers took their seats with the mayor, state
minister for sports Obaidul Quader and deputy minister for local
government, rural development and cooperatives and BCB president
Saber Hossain Choudhury, the prime minister mounted the rostrum. A
beaming premier shook hands with the captain, the vice-captain and a
few others. The cricket team sat in the front row, punctuated by the
PM and the mayor.
People from the ruling party who gave the occasion a flair of a party
program largely influenced the 'public reception'. A large number of
banners of AL and its front organisations could be seen all around.
However, apolitical banners and placards were on display, too. The
huge parade square, an unusual spot for public show, looked deserted
in most parts.
"We demand trial of Bangladesh Football Federation under section 302
of the Kr PC for killing five infant pitches (at the Bangabandhu
National Stadium)",
"Good luck Bangladesh" and "What a victory!" - read some of the
banners and placards in the ceremony.
A BCL Dhaka city north banner stated, "We've just landed in World Cup
cricket, it won't end, here. Bravo Bangladesh." The huge banner was
prominently displayed in the deck of the large podium, giving an
impression: The ruling party's student wing of Dhaka city north zone
is the sponsor of the dais.
However a decent DCC banner, "Hearty congratulations to the
Bangladesh team on its historic achievement in World Cup cricket,"
replaced the BCL banner, later, following a directive by the mayor.
"It's a victory of the Bangalee nation and of Sheikh Hasina" read
another BCL banner near the podium. A Krishak League banner said
"Warm felicitation to the Bangladeshi cricketers who defeated
Pakistan in World Cup cricket under the efficient leadership of
Sheikh Hasina". It was first hung on the left side of the dais
obstructing a section of the audience to see it. It was later shifted
to another site but still remained close to the podium.
A BCB banner read, "Victory of Bangla, victory of the Bangalees"
The back screen of the dais carried a well-decorated banner saying,
"Public reception to the national cricketers for their historic
achievement in the World Cup"
A large number of national flags were flying across the audience
while patriotic songs were being played from record players.
Drumbeats contributed to the merrymaking.
Ministers, AL leaders including MPs sat with the audience on the left
side while representatives of some small parties, different
organisations were seated just behind the cricketers, accompanied by
the premier, sports minister and the BCB president.
Before the reception formally began, tension spread among a section
of the audience as dried tall reeds (shawn) was set on fire several
times, causing thick smoke to float across the area. Fire fighters
sprayed water to put out the fire.
Conductor of the program made repeated appeals not to go for such
dangerous practice to express joy. "Some youths are setting fire to
have fun. But it may cause danger and hamper the function,"
Asadduzzaman Noor warned over the microphone.
Several hundred colour balloons were released from a corner of the
crammed audience. This gave a relief to the audience who was still
awaiting the cricketers' presence braving the scorching summer sun.
A young man caught attention of the audience by spraying orange (
jafran) colour smoke from a hand machine.
The reception formally began with recitation from the Holy Quran at
11.23 a.m. Besides the cricket team, the mayor also gave DCC crests
to the premier and the sports' minister for their contribution to
national cricket.
Besides giving cheques of Tk three lakh to each of the cricketers,
the premier gave another Tk 1.5 lakh to man-of-the-match Minhazul
Abedin Nannu; Tk one lakh to another man-of-the-match Khaled Mahmud
Sujan; And Tk 50,00 each to Mehrab Hossain Opi and Naimur Rahman
Durjoy, for their outstanding performance. A Tk three lakh cheque was
kept ready for Coach Gordon Greenidge. But he had not come back with
the team.
Speaking on the occasion, Captain Bulbul expressed his gratitude to
the nation and thanked the PM, the sports' minister and the BCB
president for their support to Bangladesh cricket.
He made a special reference to Sheikh Hasina who he said maintained
constant contact with the team when they were in England. "She
encouraged, inspired and advised us all the time."
The captain also demanded of the prime minister to give the
cricketers a permanent stadium.
In her turn, Sheikh Hasina promised her government's all-out support
for further promotion of the game in the country. "A cricket stadium
will be ready for the players when they start practicing, next," she
said without specifying. In this regard, she added, steps were
underway to build cricket stadiums at every divisional town to
discover new talent.
She termed Bangladesh's win over Pakistan as another victory after
1971.
"We're a brave nation. United, we can make any impossible a
possible... I believe, our cricketers will one day win the World
Cup," Hasina said, advising them to prepare for the goal with firm
determination and confidence.
In the 75-minute ceremony, the mayor, sports' minister and BCB
president also spoke.
Awami League general secretary and LGRD minister Zillur Rahman;
Party's city unit acting general secretary Akhtarul Alam; JSD
secretary Hasanul Haq Inu; CPB president Manzurul Ahsan Khan; Quamrul
Hasan of Workers' Party; Dilip Barua of Samyabadi Dal; Abdus Samad
Azad of Gano Azadi League; Parliamentary standing committee chairman
of sports' ministry Joynal Abedin Hajari; Bangladesh Olympic
Association president and army chief Lt. Gen. Mostafzur Rahman; BCB
president, chiefs of navy and airforce; Bangladesh Football
Federation secretary Harunur Rashid; DU VC Prof AK Azad Choudhury;
Ahad Choudhury of Muktijoddha Sangsad; Prof. Abdul Mannan Choudhury
of nirmul committee; Zafar Imam of district sports association;
Cultural activist Ramendu Majumdar; Captain of the country's first
cricket team Shamim Kabir; Journalist Kazi Shahed Ahmed; and local
MPs -- Dr H B M Iqbal and Kamal Ahmed Majumdar also greeted the
cricketers with bouquets.
Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)