Make World Cup a success: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all concerned in the country to strive to make the upcoming 2011 ICC World Cup a success.
"As a co-host of the World Cup, Bangladesh has established itself as an important part of world sports. Now I urge all to work hard to complete all the tasks to make the World Cup event a success,” said Hasina during the celebration of Abahani's founder and her younger brother Sheikh Kamal's 61st birth anniversary at the club's premises in Dhanmondi yesterday.
The Prime Minister said the government has already allocated Tk 256 crore for the renovation of five stadiums where the matches will be held during the World Cup.
Bangladesh will host eight matches including two quarterfinals and also stage the opening ceremony of the extravaganza at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Describing sports as one of the most effective tools to protect the youth, she said the youth community would have to be involved with sports in larger numbers to gain confidence and acquire various skills.
She also said her government would do everything in a bid to ensure wholesale improvement of the country's sports as well as the athletes.
As is custom, Abahani, in the program, awarded gold medals in Sheikh Kamal's name to its players and organsiers for the year. The gold medals for this year went to Tamim Iqbal (cricket), Pranotosh Kumar (football), Puskor Khisa Mimo (hockey), Kazi Nabil Ahmed (best organizer), M Musa Mia (the best patron) and ASF Rahman (former club president).
"I believe no development will be done until there are completed tournaments. With two or three good clubs, we should not expect development of the entire sports sector. All the sporting clubs should be raised to a certain standard and I want to see the sports arena going smoothly without any political influence," said Hasina, who handed over crests to Abahani's winning members of both the champions of the Bangladesh League and the Premier Division Hockey League.
The country's premier expressed gratitude to the organizers, who kept her brother, Sheikh Kamal, memorable for long through the Abahani club. She also said that Sheikh Kamal Sports Complex would be built in the club premise soon.
Abahani chairman Salman F Rahman said that they were waiting for the documents of Dhanmondi's land and hoped to begin the work in December after getting the redesign of the complex to be built on 16-acre land.
Abahani will make a modern sport complex, which will have all facilities like gymnasium, swimming-pool, indoor sports facilities and a dormitory.
Abahani director in charge Kazi Sahed Ahmed, director Harunur Rashid, Abahani Somarthakgosthi president Mir Nazimuddin and secretary Enam-E-Khoda Julu spoke on the occasion.