Shaheed Chandu Stadium: Name of a long regret for Bogura's people

Remember Bangladesh's first ever victory over 1996 World Cup Champion Sri Lanka?

On 22nd February 2006, Bangladesh registered their first-ever ODI victory against Sri Lanka in a thrilling fashion when it was hardly imaginable then. The win came in the second match of a three-match ODI series. If you remember the match, you might also remember the memorabole winning moment where a packed stadium of around 14,000 local spectators chanted "Bangladesh! Bangladesh!" as the delighted players not only completed a lap of honour but also claimed Bangladesh's first ever victory over a powerful Test cricket nation and 1996 World Cup Champion.

You might also remember Aftab Ahmed's monstrous six under immense pressure that often takes a part in cricket talking but most of the people might have forgotten the stadium's name.

Welcome to Shaheed Chandu Stadium, Bogura, Bangladesh's one of the luckiest grounds that hasn't been hosted any international matches mysteriously in almost 19 years. The sold out ShaheedChandu Stadium stadium with captivated audiences are now just a distant memory. Even many of the spectators may have been surprise when they initially saw the lifeless look Stadium.

19 years to be precise, the last International match played at the ShaheedChandu Stadium was held between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, in December 5, 2006, and was a thriller which Bangladesh won by 26 runs. The ground has hosted five ODIs and only Test match against Sri Lanka in 2006.

The ShaheedChandu Stadium was the third international stadium in Bangladesh after the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka and MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong to stage international matches in the country. But now the stadium is no more an international cricket venue. Political conflict or BCB's indifference? The stadium was built during the BNP government's tenure. After hosting matches during the Under-19 World Cup in 20004, it earned the international stadium status in 2006. However, since the AwamiLeague-led government came to power, Chandu Stadium has been in a state of disrepair. Not only international matches, but not even a single BPL match has been held at this historical ground. Not only that, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) tried to remove the stadium from the venue list in March 2023.

The Asian Age recently had a visit in Bogura and tried to draw the current picture of ShaheedChandu Stadium.  Khaled Mahmud Rubel, Bogura District Sports Association convening committee member,  helped Asian Age with many untold stories.

"When ShaheedChandu stadium was built in Bogra in 2004, the Under-19 World Cup was first held here. Then, during the inauguration, we demanded from the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Ziathat floodlights be provided here. Khaleda Zia accepted our demand and announced the installation of floodlights here. And within three months, cricket started under floodlights in Bogura." Khaled Mahmud Rubel told Asian Age.

"After the Under-19 World Cup, three more 50-over international matches and a Test match were held in this venue. After that, since the change of government in 2007, no international cricket match has been held here. I think all of us (the people of Bogura) are victims of discrimination. Victims of discrimination because it seems to me and all that international cricket matches have not been held here only for political reasons."  He added.

"Bogura is called the heart of North Bengal. The wicket and outfield of Bogura'sChandu Stadium are world class. West Indies' legend Clive Clive Lloyd, WasimAkram and many others have come here for commentry and heaped praise this stadium and wicket. We hope that international cricket will return to Bogura'sChandu Stadium very soon." he added.

This former international cricket stadium is located in the northwest of Bogura. The stadium was considered a good international venue in early age and caught the eyes of ICC. Since December 2006, there have only been local matches including NCL and BCL matches. Infect the stadium saw the human sea last time in 8th Bangladesh Games cricket.

Despite the ICC's recognition for hosting international matches in Bogura, some BCB officials have been accused of not hosting matches here out of revenge to erase the name of BNP from this ground. Since then, the stadium has been neglected.

Therefore no infrastructure development, including renovations, was happened last 19 years due to the lack of international matches. Even local peoples formed human chain in the heart of the city number of times, demanding ShaheedChandu Stadium to be a venue of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They demanded renovation of the stadium and want it to be a regular venue of international cricket match. But during the Awamiligue regime. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) high officials did not take any initiative to bring internation cricket back in Bogura. They only showed excuse that there is no international airport or luxurious hotels in Bogura as required by the ICC.

In early 2023, the BCB decided not to host any domestic cricket matches in Bogura. That's why they brought all the staff to Dhaka. Now, due to the political change, the people here are dreaming of hosting international cricket matches again.

"During the previous government's tenure, we (cricket fans, cricketers and sports organizers) formed  human chain at various times in Satmatha, Bogura, demanding international matches. We applied at various places. When we contacted the BCB, they only gave an excuse that there is no international-standard airport in Bogura, so foreigners cannot come to play here. This was the main reason for the BCB not to allow games here."Khaled Mahmud Rubel said.