e-News® | The NEWS Company…DHAKA, Nov 7, 2015 : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today assured the visiting ICC security review team of taking international standard security measures for all participants, umpires, referees, officials and spectators of ICC Under-19 World Cup in January next. The prime minister said this when an ICC security review team called on the Prime Minister at her Ganobhaban residence here.
Bangladesh has a good track record of smooth arrangements for many international events, particularly cricket. PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said the prime minister told the team that as far as security measures are concerned, Bangladesh always maintained international standard. Sheikh Hasina said Under-19 World Cup is immensely important as cricketers of this event would be future players. “So, Bangladesh is ready to do its best for successful holding of the event.”
Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh love cricket very much and Bangladesh is a right choice of ICC for Under-19 World Cup Cricket. Chief Executive of ICC David Richardson led the team while other members were ICC security consultants Sean Norris and Reg Dickson and Head of Events Chris Tetley.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, David Richardson said the ICC makes inspection visit to the host country before any event to see the security situation and make sure that the security plan taken is adequate to meet any kind of threat or risk to ensure safety and security of the participants, umpires, referees, officials and of course spectators and their friends and families. Pointing out the postponement of visit by Australia, he said for this particular reason the team has come to Bangladesh to be ensured about the facts.
He said the team has already visited the venues and met all relevant security agencies, some of the high commissioners of member countries, civil and military security personnel to know themselves the facts about the security situation. Richardson said his team met all the security and intelligence agencies, police, military and civil administration people who are responsible for developing the security plan and implementing it during the tournament time. He said the security measurers became more challenging in recent times. “But it doesn’t mean that we can’t hold event in particular places, but mean that our security plans need to be of such a standard that can mitigate risk and threats,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the conditions of the stadiums, the chief executive of the ICC said the delegation members are highly pleased particularly to see the standard of Cox’s Bazar International Stadium. The team will give a confidential report to the ICC Board just to pass the facts to them and hopefully the board will prepare the security plan and finalise it for everybody. The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket is scheduled to kick off on January 27 from Chittagong. A total of 16 countries would take part in the 48-match event.
