Contract bridge and Bangladesh Olympic Association

In my childhood days in the late 40's of the last century, I used to occasionally watch four elderly persons of our locality playing card games. The "foursome" would play the game as fun and a pastime. I got fascinated and hoped to play the game when I would come of age.
Years later, during my college days, I bought bridge books and learnt the game — counting points, bids, scoring and the elementary bridge rules. Although I knew a
little bit of contract bridge, my three other friends would play rubber bridge.
They, however, gradually learnt and began to play contract bridge. From our Intermediate final year (1958) we played bridge every Sunday — mostly in the afternoon - for 2-3 hours. Almost in each deal partners would argue about, at times, irrationally and then clam dawn.
Rubber bridge is different from the tournament bridge. In the rubber bridge, four players have to resolve dispute(s) amicably and avoid selfish attitude in violation of bridge laws.
On the contrary, tournament bridge is different. It is an officiating game conducted by the tournament director(s). Hence, any dispute at the bridge table is resolved by him in accordance with bridge laws.
Seven teams from Bangladesh took part in the 4th SAARC Bridge competition. The writer himself led his team which was in a winning spree. The team was within the striking range of one of the top slots but, as misfortune would have it, the team lost 14 IMP in a deal owing to a wrong decision of the Tournament Director.
Being Captain of the team, I latter confronted CTD (Chief Tournament Director) and asked him why did not correct the wrong decision while he was personally aware of the incident. It worked like a tonic. He confessed that an injustice was done to the aggrieved pair under big pressure of the other team, seeded and a contender for the 1st or 2nd position.
Back home, Dhaka Metropolis Bridge Association (DMBA) held a tournament. In a particular deal, our team scored both in open and the closed rooms thereby posting a big swing. But the tournament Director butted in at the instigation of the E-W pair in the closed room and scrapped the deal thereby reversing the swing legitimately owned by our team.
On the contrary, he awarded an adjusted score of 3 IMPs to the opposite team. The wrong decision was not reversed. An appeal was lodged which proved futile and then, under duress, we referred the matter to Mr. Ton Koojiman, Chief Tournament Director, World Bridge Federation.
He dismissed the judgment of the local Tournament Director oberving as follows: "With facts, you give them nothing and strict to the result. And that is it. South takes a big risk but it works very well. There is more reason, for E-W to study their system than to do anything else. I would not give them a penalty but ask them to accept in a more sportive way, bad results caused by bad action."
Thus the cause of the aggrieved i.e. our team was vindicated and  the bridge laws were upheld.
In the same tournament, a pair sitting N-S in the open room was involved in bidding infraction. Sitting west I had drawn attention of the Tournament Director, but he failed to realise that N-S pair was guilty of bidding infraction and had given no warning to the errant player. This case was also referred to Mr. Ton Koojiman who opined as follows:
"Yes there was infraction at the N-S side not explaining the partnership agreements. But where E-W damaged. No. So, no adjustment - x x x x."
I am strongly of the view that to know bridge laws is good but ignorance is a curse. Most of our bridge players do not follow universal bridge conventions and do not know bridge law.
We have an acute dearth of professional bridge teachers also which is a major shortcoming for our players to match the rest of the world. For over three decades, Bangladesh has been participating in the international bridge competitions and has yet to produce a Grand Master or Life Master.
ROLE OF BOA FOR POPULARISING CONTRACT BRIDGE: In one of my earlier articles published in the Financial Express, I said "Bridge" could play a wonderful role in bringing about a social revolution in the country and save the young people from idling themselves in anti-social activities, eve-teasing, drug addiction, etc.
But who will bell the cat? In China, one can see millions of people, including around 20 million college and university students, play bridge emulating their late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
The situation prevalent in Bangladesh NOW indicates that prospect for this intellectual game is bleak. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is the last hope which could save the game.
It is pertinent to mention that bridge is recognised as "sport" by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and over a million players are registered with the World Bridge Federation (WBF).
Compared to other games, the game of contract bridge would not need a lot of many. What is required most is initiative and motivation.

The writer is Convenor, Tournament Committee (Bridge), Officers' Club, Dhaka.
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