Outer Stadium: All business, no play
Imagine a ground that helped create the prodigies of the country's cricket -- names like Akram Khan, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed and others associated with it -- remaining occupied in any and every activity other than sports for most of the year.
Such is the situation with Chattogram Outer Stadium. Located in the city's Kazir Dewri area, adjacent to MA Aziz Stadium, this ground was once home to the best talents of the country, but now remains occupied with fairs, expositions and programmes throughout the year.
Sports organisers believe that decreasing playgrounds in the port city over the last two decades is one of the main reasons behind the crisis of new talents to represent Chattogram when it comes to sports.
Several fairs, including Bijoy Mela, textile fair, Baishakhi Mela, Sabuj Mela, motor exposition and other programmes, are held at the outer stadium regularly. This phenomenon has stopped organisers from holding games, training and tournaments at the venue.
Local coaches say star youth tournament, star summer tournament, various club-based and age-based tournaments had been organised on this ground regularly before 2005.
"The outer Stadium was basically like our in-house playground. Akram Bhai (Akram Khan), Nannu Bhai (Minhazul Abedin Nannu), Nobel (Nurul Abedin Nobel) Bhai used to play and regularly practice in this field," Aftab Ahmed, former national team cricketer and founder of Aftab Academy, told this correspondent.
"Prior to joining the national team Nafiz (Nafiz Iqbal), Tamim, I and many others used to play in this field almost every now and then. At present the field is not open for sports," he said.
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) constructed a swimming complex occupying about half of the four acres of land of the Outer Stadium in 2017.
Later, an open stage and several shops were constructed, shrinking the open space. The rest are mostly reserved throughout the year for the fairs, events and expositions.
Local sports organisers also complained that even if the ground is free, there is absolutely no environment for playing, as the entire field remains accumulated with water.
"We can't make the field suitable for sports again even if we spend on renovation," said AJM Nasir Uddin, general secretary of CJKS.
"Muktijuddho Bijay Mela has been held in this field throughout December, but the fair setup has not been removed yet. Preparations go on for about a month before any fair, keeping the field occupied for three months for a month-long event," said Nasir, also general secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan Awami League and former city mayor of the port city.
However, when asked why the fair was allowed to be held on the ground in the first place, he said the stadium has been hosting the fair every December for years.
"It has almost become a customary affair," he added.
Hafizur Rahman, sports organiser and vice-chairperson of the Chattogram Jela Krira Sangstha (CJKS), said, "We have failed to make policymakers realise the importance of such establishments."
"A separate place has to be fixed for the fairs, and prohibitions should be imposed on holding any fair or event on the field," he said.
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