German firm Polytan has won the bid to lay a new synthetic turf for the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

The evaluation committee of the National Sports Council on Sunday selected Polytan as the lowest bidder among five final contestants including Dutch and US companies. Originally, there were six bidders but one was disqualified.

“We have had several meetings and as per rules and regulations, we have recommended Polytan as the lowest bidder. Their bid was

Tk 8.10 crore. The highest bid was Tk 9.14 crore,” said Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Shamsul Bari, also a member of the bid committee.

“It will be a more high quality turf than the present one. The fibres are different from the old one, which couldn't hold water on the surface. It is better that water stays on the surface. The one we are going to buy has granules like athletic turfs that don't allow water to trickle down to the basement,” Bari informed.

The old turf, which is ten years old, is likely to be cut up and sent to different corners of the country where hockey is popular. The new turf will be put in place during this financial year.