Nat'l handball starts Sunday

The qualifying round of the Exim Bank 19th National Men's Handball Champion-ship will begin on Sunday in Rangpur with the Zone A qualifiers.
The zones B and C qualifiers will start in Jessore and Rangamati on April 17 and April 28 respectively.
A record 29 teams will participate in the qualifiers for six spots in the finals where Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Ansar and Rajshahi will get direct entry. The 10-team final round will be played in Dhaka in May.
Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) officials revealed at a press conference yesterday that Exim Bank will provide Tk 12.50 lakh out of the total Tk 13-lakh budget.
BHF president Nurul Fazal Bulbul, vice-president Hamida Ali, general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, Exim Bank's additional MD Ekramul Haque and others were present.
Bulbul also said that the BHF is looking forward to organise the Bangabandhu International Handball Tournament next winter.
"The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) has appreciated the idea and we want to invite more than 24 teams from Asia and Europe," said the BHF president.