Green Delta, BHF strengthen ties

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) and Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd yesterday strengthened their relationship by signing another three-year MoU (memorandum of understanding) to sponsor premier, first and second division hockey leagues for the next three years.

Under the agreement, the company will provide Tk one crore, which is Tk 60 lakh more than what they had provided over the previous term of 2012-14.

The insurance giants have been associated with the local game's governing body since 1985.

“It is a unique relationship between the two organisations and such sponsorship is rare in sports arena. I hope the relationship will continue as long as the federation exists,” BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque said at the agreement signing ceremony at the BOA auditorium.

“One day in 1985, Sadeque bhai approached for sponsoring hockey and since then we have been with hockey even though I had to face a lot of criticism from colleagues and fellow businessmen. Hockey is now in my blood and I feel proud to be a part of Bangladesh hockey which is going forward and I can assure we will stay with hockey in future,” said Green Delta's founding managing director and adviser Nasir A Chowdhury.

“The window of the players' transfer for premier league has been declared and we expect to start the league in April. We want to keep the game on the ground round the year, but we need help from club officials and players to make it successful,” said BHF president and Air chief Air Marshal Abu Esrar.

Green Delta's managing director and CEO Farzana Chowdhury informed that they have also brought the national players under its insurance scheme for next one year and that each of the players will get a benefit of maximum Tk 3 lakh if they sustain injuries in competitive matches for national team.

“It is a historical moment for both organisations who have grown gradually together,” Farzana said. “We are not only sponsoring leagues for the last 33 years, but we have also been involved with different activities of the federation as well."

At the agreement signing ceremony, 2016 premier league champions Dhaka Mariner Youngs club and runners-up Usha KC were handed over trophies. AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed, chairman of Mariner Youngs Club's hockey committee and vice president of BHF, handed over Tk 10 lakh to the BHF president for the national team, which will travel to Oman next month for the qualifying round of the Asian Games.