The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolitan (CCDM) yesterday suspended its activities to press home the demand of winning back the Bnnga-bandhu National Stadium (BNS) exclusively for cricket.

The CCDM decision, taken after a joint meeting last night with the Mahanagari Cricket Club Samity at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) office, gave another twist in the age-old dispute over the possession of BNS between football and cricket.

The hardline CCDM approach came hot on the heels BCBs decision to suspend Its annual calendar. It will for sure put the State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul Quader under tremendous pressure

Quader kicked up a storm by allowing the football authorities to use the BNS for an extra month.

Quader. who is also the chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), recently sought time to give a practical solution to the Hottest controversy of local sports. He assured the BCB of letting them know the government’s stance on the Issue within a week. The NSC owns the BNS.

“We want the Bangabandhu National Stadium to be de dared as the Bangabandhu National Cricket Stadium." said Joint-secretary of the BCB and CCDM secretary Mahmud-ul Huq Manu after the meeting.

Terming it as a rightful demand. not only because cricket

brought home the highest accolade oy winning the Test status, but also for the fact that the BNS was exclusively designed and built for cricket. Mahmud said that they were going to launch vigorous campaign to win the BNS.

“The CCDM will not hold any domestic events under Its Jurisdiction. Besides. It will also refrain from taking part in the inter-club cricketers transfer unless the demand is met.” said Mahmud .

The meeting chaired by CCDM chairman Tanvir Halder, also advocated the BCB to refrain from all cricketing activities including international events.

“We will laum h a mass nature drive to solicit the opinion of general public regarding the issue. It will kick off from the Jatiya Press within the next week." said Mahmud.

Representatives of 60 out of the 72 Dhaka based clubs attended the meeting.

The meeting also disapproved the government's plan to relocate cricket s major domestic activities from the heart of Dhaka to the far off Fainllah where work is progressing fast on a intern,nlonal standard cricket ground, ironically, the clubs who also represent the Dhaka Mahanagari Football Association refused over the years to give up their right over BNS ana play at the Mirpur Stadium, built exclusively for football