The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

In the wake of strong criticism over the theft of 1,500-year-old two rare terracotta statues of Hindu god Vishnu, the government yesterday decided not to send the second consignment of 143 artefacts for exhibition in Guimet Museum in Paris.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Council of Advisers taking the "public sentiment into account."

The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office, took the decision after thoroughly reviewing the situation involving the dispatch of the artefacts to France.

Besides, the meeting formed a high-powered inquiry committee with Cabinet Secretary as convener to investigate how two rare terracotta artefacts of Hindu god Vishnu were stolen from Zia International Airport after the second consignment of 145 artefacts in 13 crates were handed over to the Air France authorities.

Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein, Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr Ayub Quadri, Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin, Acting Ambassador of France in Bangladesh, Inspector General of Police and relevant government high officials were present at the meeting.

After the Advisory Council's meeting it was told that the rest 145 artefacts would not be sent to France until and unless the matter relating to the missing of two statues of Hindu god Vishnu was resolved.

An official announcement said due to an unfortunate incident of theft of two artefacts from Zia International Airport early Saturday and because of complexity and taking into consideration the public sentiment that arose due to this incident the remaining artefacts would not be dispatched at this time.

The meeting decided that the Guimet Museum would be informed regretfully that it would not be possible to "go ahead with holding the exhibition of the items as planned."

In response to an invitation from Guimet Museum, the Bangladesh government had accepted the offer to showcase its rich cultural heritage in Paris in keeping with the usual practice of countries doing such displays.

In the morning the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in a letter to the National Museum authorities directed to bring the artefacts back from the Zia International Airport and kept those under their custody. Receiving the letter, high officials of the National Museum rushed to the airport and asked the Homebound shipment agency to unload the crates from the Air France cargo flight on the runway. Accordingly, the Homebound authorities unloaded 12 crates of artefacts from the Air France cargo aircraft on the runway. Afterward the artefacts were examined by the National Museum officials in presence of the officials of police, RAB and other agencies at the airport. Later, the artefacts were sent to the National Museum at Shahbagh in the city.

Police also launched a nationwide hunt and sought help from Interpol to retrieve the stolen antiquities after detaining 15 people in connection with a criminal case filed with the Biman Bandar Police Station by a senior official of the National Museum.

Earlier, the first consignment of 42 artefacts in 10 boxes was sent to France for exhibition in Guimet Museum in Paris on December 1. The second consignment of 147 artefacts was being sent after the Supreme Court cleared the legal roadblocks.

It is learnt that though the shipment of the second consignment of 143 artefacts has been cancelled by the government, the first consignment of 42 artefacts which have already been sent to France will be exhibited as usual at Guimet Museum in Paris.

On Saturday last, 13 crates containing 147 artefacts were handed over to Air France authorities after completing customs formalities.

Police said soon after the crates were loaded in the aircraft, it was found that one crate containing two statues were missing. The missing crate was later found empty in a ditch near the runway of the airport.

The government formed a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the theft of the statues and submit its findings by December 26.

The Embassy of France in Dhaka is likely to hold a press conference on Thursday to explain the French government position on the Bangladesh government decision.

BSS, Dhaka

The government at an emergency meeting yesterday formally decided not to send a second artifact consignment to Paris in view of "public sentiment" as searches were underway to recover the two ancient statues stolen two days ago minutes ahead of their shipment.

"It was decided at the meeting that the remaining artifacts would not be dispatched till the issues related to the theft case was resolved and because of the complexity and public sentiment that arose out of this incident," a statement of the Chief Adviser's office said after the "special meeting".

The statement said the meeting" chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed decided that the Guimet Museum, where the relics were due to be showcased, would be informed regretfully that it would not be possible to go ahead with the planned exhibition of the items.

Fakhruddin Ahmed, who returned home on Monday morning after performing the holy hajj in Saudi Arabia, called the meeting joined by advisers and concerned senior officials and security personnel. Security personnel told the meeting that investigations were underway to find the two terracotta Vishnu images.

The statues were found missing from the Zia International Airport on Sunday minutes ahead of their shipment to Paris by a Air France cargo plane defying protests by archeologists, historians, connoisseurs and civil society leaders. The meeting also constituted another high powered committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar to "make a comprehensive report on the issue".

"We have not lost hope, but yet there is no development which I can tell you. Let's see what happens," Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad told BSS.

Director general of elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Hassan Mahmud echoed the police chief only saying "investigations are underway and we are assisting the police". That's all I can tell you right this moment."

Officials said National Central Bureau (NCB) of the police has sent a message to the Interpol informing them of the heist and seeking help in tracing the Gupta era relics and hunting down those responsible.

One of the 13 cartons that contained the two terracotta statues of Lord Vishnu were found missing during the final check as a Air France cargo plane was preparing to take off carrying the second consignment of the relics for an exhibition at Guimet Museum in the French capital under a deed signed with France.

The empty carton containing the statues was later found at a water body adjacent to the runway.

The theft which appeared to be a major debacle for the government as the second consignment of the relics were set to be shipped to Paris to be displayed in a show in the French capital.

The protestors feared that those could be stolen and the replicas would return home as French relic hunters have expertise in copying such pieces.

Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Ayub Quadri said he was shouldering the responsibility after the loss of two rare artifacts.

"It's me who must take the responsibility as the head of the cultural affairs ministry for the lost artifacts."

Named 'Vishnu' and 'Bust of Vishnu', the 1,500-year-old statues are from Gupta era of the seventh century. Since being discovered in a dig at Mahasthangarh of Bogra, they had been kept at the National Museum.

Earlier, the High Court issued a two-month stay order on sending the artifacts to Paris. But, later the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court vacated the stay allowing the government to start the shipment procedure.

French embassy in a statement earlier criticized the "loose procedures" and lack of security vigil at the airport tarmac for the theft while "France condemns such acts in the strongest term".

One hundred and eighty-nine antiques were selected from the National Museum in Dhaka and the museums of Paharpur, Mahasthangarh, Mainamati and Varendra for the exhibition in Paris while the first consignment was sent earlier this month.

Pulack Ghatack

A major reshuffle in the boards of various private sector banks is in the offing and some 130 bank-directors is expected to be dropped from their respective boards by October 2008 to comply with the amended Bank Company Act.

More than half of the country's private banks would either have to appoint new directors or thoroughly rearrange their boards after October next year as the amended banking law limits the number of directors to 13 only and restricts the tenure of a director to two consecutive terms (three-year term each), sources in the Bangladesh Bank said.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank will top the list with 21 directors being removed, while it would be followed by United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL), which is to remove 19 directors. Al-Arafah, UCBL, Pubali, Premier, City and SIBL banks would have to reconstitute their boards entirely before October 2008.

The Act, promulgated in October 2007, also says that a family having above 5.0 per cent shares in a banking company is entitled to have not more than two directors on its board, and a family having less than 5.0 per cent shares is able to hold one post of director.

Parents, husband and wife, children, brothers and sisters and their dependants are considered members of a family.

The President promulgated the Bank Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 in last October the draft of which was approved by the Council of Advisers in July updating the Bank Companies Act 1991 in order to streamline the banking sector.

Managements of banks welcomed the Caretaker Government's move, which they said, would help ensure good governance in the banking sector. They said that the amendments would help the authorities to operate the banks more professionally.

The owners, on the contrary, pleaded that this Act will weaken the boards of banks due to forced exclusion of experienced members.

The BB in a circular on 5 November this year instructed commercial banks to comply with the amended clauses regarding directorship and chief executive officer.

The central bank on the same day also asked commercial banks to raise their capital to Tk 200 crore by June 2009, in compliance with the Bank Company (Amendment) Act, 2007. The banks will have to increase half of the capital of Tk 100 crore by June 2008 and the rest by June 2009.

Staff Reporter

Fifteen people arrested in connection with a case involving the theft of two 1,500-year-old statues of Hindu god Vishnu from Zia International Airport hours before their shipment along with 145 other artefacts by a Air France cargo aircraft for Paris were placed under a five-day police remand for interrogation.

Of the arrestees, three were officials of Air France's Dhaka office and seven were cargo loaders.

They were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court yesterday morning by sub-inspector Monu Shoheb Imtiaz of Biman Bandar Police Station, who is also the investigating officer of the case. The investigating officer pleaded to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Habibur Rahman to place the suspects under a 10-day remand for interrogation. However, the court approved only five days.

The first information report did not mention the names of the accused. The 15 people were arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the incident and sent to court.

Defence lawyers Karimul Haider Chowdhury, Kajem Ali Dulal and Abdul Hye opposed the appeal for remand. The counter-appeal by the defence lawyers was rejected.

Two statues of Vishnu, which were up for shipment to Paris for display at the Guimet Museum, went missing from Zia International Airport. The incident was detected when the crates containing the artefacts were being loaded into a Air France cargo aircraft on the runway of Zia International Airport on Saturday.

The arrestees are Zamiul Abedin, Masud Rana Saiful, Edward Roy, Dev Barua, Amir Hamza, Abdul Hakim Babul, Solaiman, Abu Bakar, Afsar, Abul Hossain, Md Al Momin, Shahjahan Ali, Shariful Islam Manik, Bilal Hossain and Shanker Chandra Dey.

AP, Bangkok

Thailand's leading parties wooed possible partners for a coalition government on Monday, a day after allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came out on top in the country's first election since he was ousted in a September 2006 military coup.

The pro-Thaksin People's Power Party won just under half the seats in the 480-member lower house of parliament, delivering a powerful message that the exiled prime minister's mostly rural supporters would be happy to see him return despite allegations he was corrupt and abused power.

Not so happy to see Thaksin return would be those who deposed him - the military, Bangkok's educated middle class, and the country's elite, including elements around the monarchy who felt threatened by his accumulation of power.

Speaking in Hong Kong, the self-exiled Thaksin said he will "explore options" for a return sometime between mid-February and April, but will not resume his political career after being ousted in a bloodless coup d'etat last year.

"I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics," said Thaksin at a press conference.

However, he said he would be willing to act as a political adviser to the People's Power Party if asked. "If they (the PPP's leaders) want my opinion and ideas, then I will give it to them," said Thaksin.

Thaksin was abroad at the time of his bloodless ouster, and has since lived in exile, mostly in London. He is legally barred from office, his Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved by the courts, and he has been charged with a slew of corruption-related crimes.

Under an interim military-installed government that succeeded Thaksin, his foes changed the constitution to limit the influence of big parties and sought to demonize him as a corrupt destroyer of democracy. His return could undo their efforts and put their own positions in jeopardy.

Ahead of the vote, rumors even swirled that the military would stage a new coup if faced with the prospect of a Thaksin comeback, although the army commander vowed to abide by the election results.

What his foes failed to do, the election results showed, was win over Thaksin's followers in the rural north and poor northeast. Those supporters remained loyal in gratitude for the former leader's populist programs, including universal health care and generous village development funds implemented when he held office from 2001-2006.

"This is the people's decision. The military has to accept that people disagree with the coup," commented Prinya Thaewanaraemitkul, who teaches law at Bangkok's Thammasat University.

The PPP captured 233 seats in the lower house, according to full results released by the Election Commission on Tuesday, putting it in the best position to form a new governing coalition.

The rival Democrat Party was second with 165 seats, while the Chart Thai Party finished third with 37.

PPP Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee said Monday that his party had won the agreement of enough other smaller parties to form a stable majority coalition with 280-300 seats.

There would be "no problem in forming a government," he said at a news conference. The House is supposed to convene within one month of the election.

Surapong said he will reveal his would-be partners' names only after Jan. 3, when the Election Commission is expected to certify the voting results.

Even if the PPP, led by former Thai Rak Thai members, has concluded a coalition deal, it could fall apart if enough of the party's candidates are disqualified for electoral violations such as vote-buying.

Because Thaksin has such influential enemies, however, his proxy party is being sharply challenged by the Democrat Party, which, despite coming in second at the polls, has the confidence of the political establishment.

Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thueksuban said the PPP's claim that it has enough partners to form a coalition would only be credible if all the involved party leaders announce it publicly and jointly.

Building a working coalition is only the first challenge to restoring stability in Thailand after two years of polarizing politics, which began with street demonstrations in Bangkok demanding that Thaksin step down and continued after the coup failed to reconcile Thaksin's urban opponents with his rural supporters.

Virtually all parties have espoused policies modeled after Thaksin's populist programs and no party has suggested any fresh approach to solving the country's gravest crisis, a Muslim insurgency in the far south that has led to the loss of more than 2,600 lives in almost four years.

Syful Islam

US textile bosses are opposing passage of the new trade bill allowing duty free access of goods of least developed countries in their market fearing massive blow to their local industry, informed sources said.

"They fear that if the bill is passed, the US textile industry will be hard hit because the industry exports US12 billion a year in yarns and fabrics to western hemisphere countries. These countries will not be able to compete with Bangladesh and Cambodia," a communiqué between Ministry of Commerce and the Bangladesh Embassy in US revealed.

A recent meeting of the officials of Bangladesh Embassy in US, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition and National Council of Textile Organisations revealed that the US lobbies are opposing the bill fearing that the shrinking US textile and apparel industry may even shrink faster if the bill is passed.

The African Countries find it difficult to compete with apparel 'superstar' Bangladesh even with the tariff and quotas.

They fear to lose in competition, as cost of Bangladesh and Cambodian apparel is US$2.44 per square metre against the African cost of US$3.92.

As the African countries lack capacity and technologyical skill to compete with big players like Bangladesh and Cambodia the African lobbies are opposing the bill, too.

The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition and the National Council of Textile Organisations are concerned about the possible impact of expiry of quota on Chinese export to US on January 2009. In this challenging moment they do not want to face more competition allowing the duty free access of goods from LDCs.

Congressman Jim McDermott introduced "The New Partnership for Development Act of 2007" bill in the US Senate on October 18.

The trade bill, if passed, will allow duty and quota free access of LDC products to the American market.

Staff Reporter

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers' sacrifice for world peace glorifies the nation and inspires the global community.

Bangladesh has acquired a prestigious position in the United Nations (UN) committee for being the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping by deploying 9,831 soldiers and police personnel in 13 missions, he said.

"Our peacekeepers have taken up the mission as a challenge and we have turned this sacrifice into strength. We are playing an important role for establishing global peace and bringing about stability in the conflict ridden areas," he said at a meeting in the city yesterday.

More than 62,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have participated in the UN peacekeeping missions and 79 heroic soldiers and policemen have been killed, he added.

He was addressing a commemoration meeting at the National Press Club organised by Rhythm Cultural Society (RCS) to mark the 4th anniversary of death of 15 Army personnel killed in a plane crash in Benin on this day in 2003.

Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain presided over the meeting, while former state minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, RCS President Maj (Retd) Amin Ahmed Afsari, among others, spoke on the occasion.

The Foreign Adviser said, "In recognition of our peacekeeping activities, Bangladesh has been made a member of the Organisational Committee of the Peace-building Commission."

The peacekeeping is always risky as it involves combating unknown enemies on foreign soil. But members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and Police while on peacekeeping duty never retreated from any challenge, he said.

Because of all inspiring sacrifice, Foreign Adviser said, "Whenever deployment of peacekeeping is needed, Bangladesh is considered first for the task as undaunted Bangladeshi soldiers always played a leading role anywhere in the world defying danger or risk."

Dr Kamal Hossain said Bangladesh born for establishing human rights would always stand by the struggles for human rights and justice anywhere in the world.

Since independence, Bangladesh had been playing a pro-active role in different areas of the UN and earning acclamation from the world community, Dr Kamal said.

"Martyrdom of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for establishing peace will bring world recognition for the nation and people," he said.

Maj Amin Afsari thanked the government for constructing a World Peace Memorial and hoped that it would be completed before December 25 next year.

Family members of the martyred soldiers including Shawkat Nasrin, wife of Shaheed Lt Col SM Shamsul Arefin, among others, were present at the meeting.

The Bangladeshi peacekeepers - 13 of them members of BANBAT-9 under UNAMSIL and two under UNMIL - were returning home on leave were killed in that plane crash on Benin. The remains of the martyred soldiers were brought home on December 31, 2003 by a UN plane.

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

A Dhaka court resumes a hearing on extortion charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday, in a case filed by businessman Azam Jahangir Chowdhury.

The hearing that comes after a 15-day break will be conducted in the relocated courtroom of the metropolitan sessions judge set up on the Sangsad Bhaban premises.

On Dec 19, metropolitan sessions judge Md Azizul Haque set Wednesday for the hearing in the case that also involves Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.

Advocate ABM Sharfuddin Ahmed Khan Mukul, the chief government counsel, told bdnews24.com Tuesday: "I've been notified that the charge framing in the case will be held on Dec 26 in the makeshift courtroom on the Sangsad Bhaban premises."

The judge made the latest decision after the Supreme Court on Dec 13 cleared all barriers to the hearing of the case in the shifted court.

The original venue for the court was in Old Dhaka, but the government shifted it to the Sangsad Bhaban area for security reasons.

The court is close to the special jail where Hasina has been kept since her arrest on July 16, pending trial.

Selim is also behind bars. Rehana has been shown a fugitive in the case as she lives in London.

Defence lawyers filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the court relocation, and won a stay order on the government decision on Dec 9.

But the decision was overturned by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

The charges involve an alleged extortion of about Tk 3 crore from businessman Azam J Chowdhury when Hasina was in office for 1996-2001.

Chowdhury filed the case on June 13, alleging that he had paid the money to the accused as they threatened to cancel a power plant project.

Hasina, Selim, and other Awami League leaders denied the charges against them, saying the case was aimed at preventing Hasina joining the next polls, expected by 2008. Rehana alleged that the case had been designed with ill intent.

The law ministry issued a circular on Nov 26, sanctioning the relocation of the court to Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban from the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court premises.

Simultaneously, the ministry appointed the Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge and five special public prosecutors for trial of Hasina.

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Delay in the process of establishing a Saarc Food Bank has deprived Bangladesh of accessing valuable resources while the country has been desperately trying to procure food crops in a bid to cope with the post-Sidr crisis, Tapan Chowdhury said Tuesday.

"In the post-Sidr situation in Bangladesh, we would've been greatly benefited if the food bank were operational. In fact, the initiative was conceived to face such crises readily and efficiently," the food and disaster management adviser told bdnews24.com.

Bangladesh may have had access to at least 2.41 lakh tonnes of food aid from the proposed food bank's stocks, if Saarc's planned initiative to combat regional food crises had materialised, Tapan said.

"The Saarc member countries have not commissioned their foodbanks so far," the adviser said, adding that Bangladesh also lags behind as regards this initiative.

"It hasn't been possible to commission the food bank as some of the member countries didn't ratify their commitments as agreed," he explained.

The decision to establish a Saarc Food Bank was adopted at the 2007 Saarc Conference held in Delhi on April 4, where food ministers signed the relevant charter.

Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser put his signature to the instrument as the country's food adviser was not present on the occasion.

Tapan told bdnews24.com that as per agreement, the Saarc member nations should be able to get food loans from the envisaged food bank in case of shortages due to natural disasters or otherwise, and return the loaned foods as the situation improves.

"The member countries are meant to raise and maintain the food stocks in their own countries, it was agreed, and send the same to other countries when circumstances warrant."

India is supposed to hold the largest food stock, according to the agreement, the adviser said, while the newest Saarc member Afghanistan has not yet pledged any such food stock yet.

India's share was determined to be 1.53 lakh tonnes, Bangladesh and Pakistan at 40,000 tonnes each and Sri Lanka and Nepal at 4,000 tonnes each

The Maldives agreed to provide 200 tonnes and Bhutan 180 tonnes of food grains.

Food ministry officials said the government currently has stocks of 6.2 lakh tonnes of food grains, whereas, about 19 lakh tonnes is required to manage the ongoing and envisaged shortages.

India, meanwhile, has notified its intention of selling 5 lakh tonnes of food grains to Bangladesh.

Staff Reporter

The Christmas Day, the greatest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated across the country as elsewhere in the world with due religious enthusiasm.

On the Christmas Day Jesus Christ was born over 2,000 years ago to free human beings from all types of sins.

All churches were tastefully decorated and Christmas trees illuminated as members of the Christian community celebrated the festival from Monday night.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief of the Christian community in Bangladesh and Archbishop of Dhaka Paulinus Costa gave separate messages and felicitated the Christian community on the occasion of the Christmas Day.

Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife Prof Dr Anwara Begum exchanged greetings with members of the Christian community at Bangabhaban on the occasion of the Christmas Day.

Assistant Archbishop Theotonius Gomez, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and diplomats including Charge D' Affaires of Vatican City to Bangladesh Rev Kurian Matthew Vayalunkal, distinguished persons of the Christian community, religious leaders and professionals attended the reception.

President's Military Secretary Maj Gen Aminul Karim, Secretary to the President's office Sirajul Islam, Religious Affairs Secretary Ataur Rahman and Press Secretary to the President Abdul Awal Howlader were also present on the occasion.

To celebrate the Christmas Day, prayers were held at Tejgaon Church at 6:30am, 8:00am and 9:00am yesterday.

In Kakrail Church, prayers were held at 7:30am and 10:30am yesterday. Special prayers were also offered yesterday seeking the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.

Special prayers were held in all the Christian churches across the country to commemorate the recent cyclone SIDR affected people and urging all to make their efforts to uphold the tradition of standing beside the affected people for their welfare.

Children and juveniles organised cultural functions in the churches to celebrate the day. Distribution of Christmas cakes, gifts and exchange of greetings were other features of the occasion.

The government had taken adequate security measures to avert possible attempts by the vested quarters to jeopardise the celebration.

To celebrate the day all rated hotels including Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Hotel Sonargaon Pan Pacific, Hotel Westin Dhaka organised lavish Christmas parties at their respective hotels.

During the Christmas carnival children party including Christmas tree and maze, Christmas carol musical chair and performance of Santaclause also held in those venues. Therefore, special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch and dinner were also arranged there.

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The caretaker government is preparing to build an impressive CV of its successes as it completes a year of assumption of power.

The chief of the government's press wing said they had asked the ministries to forward information for compilation at the year-end.

"No specific decision has yet been taken about publishing any comprehensive account of achievements by the caretaker government, though," Iftekhar Hossain, principal information officer for the Press Information Department, told bdnews24.com by telephone."We gathered similar progress reports and relevant information from all ministries at the end of the first six months too."

A circular sent to the ministries and departments mentioned that a special supplement to be published highlighting the government's successes has been envisaged.

The supplement will contain success stories in economy, policy planning, project implementation, production, services, administration, research and anti-corruption drive and the future plan.

The PID passed on the directive to all the relevant government offices soon after it had received a similar notification from the top tier of the government.

The political governments too carried out similar exercises at the end of the year to 'highlight their successes' in the past, said a top brass in the caretaker government, wishing to remain unnamed.

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team will face New Zealand National Cricket team today in the first One Day International (ODI) match at the Eden Park in Hamilton of New Zealand. The Sab Channel will telecast the match live from 5.00 AM from the stadium.

Before taking part in the, ODI Bangladesh played eight ODI matches against New Zealand and the Tigers lost to the Kiwis all the ODI matches.

This is for the first time the Tigers are going to play ODI matches and Test matches against the Kiwis in New Zealand.

It may be mentioned that the players of Bangladesh team are morally very high as the Tigers beat full-fledged New Zealand XI by four wickets in the charity Twenty 20 match at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on December 23.

Bangladesh's chances have been hampered by the loss of their prolific left-arm medium pacer Syed Rasel, who got injury in his shoulder during a warm-up match against Northern Districts.

On the other hand, New Zealand will take part in the first ODI without their key weapon Shane Bond, who suffered an abdominal during the tour to South Africa last month.

Former captain of New Zealand team Stephen Fleming said that it felt very tentative with the batting unit. Fleming is no longer part of ODI squads of New Zealand.

Jamie Siddons, the newly appointed Bangladesh Coach believes developing consistency is their biggest challenge.

However, the cricket lovers of Bangladesh expect a positive approach from their side in the upcoming ODI match against New Zealand.