Torch of 11th South Asian Games ceremonially lit at Meghnaghat
Friday, 29 January 2010
The torch of the 11th South Asian Games was ceremonially ignited Thursday at the Meghnaghat Power Station, some 35-kilometres away from the capital on the bank of river Meghna, reports UNB.
Finance Minister and Chairman of the Games Organising Committee AMA Muhith, at a festive occasion, lighted the torch, which started its journey to Bangladesh from traditional Adam's Peak of Sri Lanka on January 24.
Bangladesh for the first time introduced the torch relay race in the 11th SA Games following the style of Olympics.
National sports award winning swimmer Wing Comdr Rafiqul Islam carried the torch at the lighting ceremony, which was lit by Finance Minister AMA Muhith and then handed over to another sports award winning veteran sportsman Bashir Ahmed to carry to the Games venue.
To mark the occasion, a traditional boat race competition was arranged at the river Meghna where the Manjur Quader-led boat, 'Rocket', emerged champions and the Zahidul Islam-led 'Salmoti' became runners-up. Abdul Mannan-led boat, 'Tiger', finished third among six participating boats.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Ahad Ali Sarkar, BOA and Army Chief General MA Mubeen, Golam Dastagir Gazi MP and Kaiser Hasnat MP and the representatives of eight participating countries were present on the occasion.
Later, the torch was carried by speed boat to Postagola Ghat and reached its final destination at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the afternoon.
BFF and SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin will carry the torch inside the Bangabandhu National Stadium tomorrow (Friday) before lighting the torch tower at the top of the stadium after change of hands by 11 other celebrated local sportsmen.
The 11 celebrated athletes, who will carry the torch before lighting the torch tower at BNS, are: Lutfunnessa Haque Bakul (Women's Sports Federa-tion), Golam Mustafa (war-injured freedom fighter), Zinat Ahmed (Women's Sports Federation), ASM Raquibul Hasan and Akram Khan (Cricket), Atiqur Rahman and Kazi Shahana Parveen (Shooting), Lt Cdr Bazlur Rahman (Swi-mming), Jewel Rana (Football), Mosharaf Hossain (Boxing) and Mahbub Alam (Athletics).
Finance Minister and Chairman of the Games Organising Committee AMA Muhith, at a festive occasion, lighted the torch, which started its journey to Bangladesh from traditional Adam's Peak of Sri Lanka on January 24.
Bangladesh for the first time introduced the torch relay race in the 11th SA Games following the style of Olympics.
National sports award winning swimmer Wing Comdr Rafiqul Islam carried the torch at the lighting ceremony, which was lit by Finance Minister AMA Muhith and then handed over to another sports award winning veteran sportsman Bashir Ahmed to carry to the Games venue.
To mark the occasion, a traditional boat race competition was arranged at the river Meghna where the Manjur Quader-led boat, 'Rocket', emerged champions and the Zahidul Islam-led 'Salmoti' became runners-up. Abdul Mannan-led boat, 'Tiger', finished third among six participating boats.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Ahad Ali Sarkar, BOA and Army Chief General MA Mubeen, Golam Dastagir Gazi MP and Kaiser Hasnat MP and the representatives of eight participating countries were present on the occasion.
Later, the torch was carried by speed boat to Postagola Ghat and reached its final destination at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the afternoon.
BFF and SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin will carry the torch inside the Bangabandhu National Stadium tomorrow (Friday) before lighting the torch tower at the top of the stadium after change of hands by 11 other celebrated local sportsmen.
The 11 celebrated athletes, who will carry the torch before lighting the torch tower at BNS, are: Lutfunnessa Haque Bakul (Women's Sports Federa-tion), Golam Mustafa (war-injured freedom fighter), Zinat Ahmed (Women's Sports Federation), ASM Raquibul Hasan and Akram Khan (Cricket), Atiqur Rahman and Kazi Shahana Parveen (Shooting), Lt Cdr Bazlur Rahman (Swi-mming), Jewel Rana (Football), Mosharaf Hossain (Boxing) and Mahbub Alam (Athletics).