Bangladeshi authorities have shut down a Muslim seminary next to a cricket stadium in Dhaka and forbidden provocative banners ahead of the Indian team’s upcoming tour of the country, officials said yesterday.
Maulana Abdus Shakoor, head of the Rauzatun Saliheen Alim madrassa, said he had received a letter from authorities asking him to keep the madrassa closed during the one-off Test match from Wednesday to Sunday next week.
“This is the first time we have received a request from the government administration to keep the complex closed,” Maulana Shakoor told reporters.
Test cricket is to return to Fatullah Osmani Stadium after nine years, having hosted its only five-day match against Australia in 2006. The ground has so far hosted 10 one-day internationals, including five matches of the Asia Cup last year.
Bangladesh Cricket Board security chief Hussain Imam said the madrassa was told to shut “as part of additional security measures” for the Indian cricketers, who arrive in Dhaka tomorrow to play the Test and three one-day internationals.
Maulana Shakoor said he was surprised by the diktat, as classes in the seminary were held during the Asia Cup last year.
“But this time we have been asked to declare a vacation for five days. I have got verbal permission only to keep 25 orphans in our dormitory on humanitarian grounds,” he said.
Bangladeshi madrassas have been under the spotlight in recent months after two students were arrested over the killing of an atheist blogger in the heart of Dhaka.
Imam said security steps were also being scaled up in view of the controversial World Cup match between the two teams in the World Cup in Australia-New Zealand earlier this year.
Fans in Bangladesh were left infuriated when several umpiring decisions went against the cricket minnows, dashing their hope to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Bangaldesh’s Mustafa Kamal, then-president of the International Cricket Council, added fuel to the controversy by suggesting the umpires were biased in favor of heavyweights India.
Imam said authorities have also banned any anti-Indian banners and festoons in the stands during the matches.
“We will not allow anyone to enter with banners or festoons carrying offensive language or obscene cartoons,” he said.
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