All sporting activities to be postponed till March 31

All kinds of sporting activities are to be postponed till March 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel informed through a press release after a meeting with officials of different federations at the secretariat today.

The meeting with sports federation high-ups followed a cabinet meeting earlier in the day during which a minister had said that cricket and football matches were ongoing in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina then instructed to close all sporting activities.

"The number of people infected by coronavirus is increasing. All the schools and colleges have already been closed due to this. Today, the prime minister instructed to close all sporting activities after this topic was brought to attention during a meeting today. And that is why I am asking you to halt all kinds of domestic sports events till March 31. Additionally, I will also request for any international events to be arranged after April," Zahid was quoted as saying in the press release.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) also informed through a press release today that the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the final round of the school football tournament that was scheduled to begin from tomorrow and the women's football league have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the professional football league committee will meet with the club officials tomorrow to decide about the BPL.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also informed through a press release today that the third round fixtures of the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (BDPL) have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.