“On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, I welcome the World Cup to Bangladesh,” said the Prime Minister. “Many thanks to the ICC [International Cricket Council] and the BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] for working so hard to make this possible. Cricket lovers and fellow citizens, thank you all for your help, cooperation and understanding,”
-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,Bangladesh
- Dhaka, February 2011. Colorful fireworks light up the Dhaka sky during the inaugural ceremony of the cricket World Cup at Bangabandhu Stadium. The Cricket tournament, made up of fourteen nations, lasts seven weeks. Photo: Monirul Alam
According to the DS News paper, the Bangabandhu National Stadium, however, an explosive festival of colour, music, dance and unceasing noise signaled the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 which will be jointly held in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Amidst flashing strobe lights, fluttery LED kites and a thousand irresistible cheers both in and out of the stadium, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 officially open, thereby checking another box in a long list of achievements for a young nation.
MONIRUL ALAM 