Hockey team yet to get GO

With only four days left before their scheduled departure for Oman, Bangladesh hockey team's participation in the Asian Games qualifiers hangs in the balance over procurement of government order (GO) from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation's general secretary Abdus Sadeque informed that they applied for the GO two weeks ago through the National Sports Council, but they are yet to receive it.

“We applied for GO on February 14 but we have not received permission yet, so we are worried as to whether Bangladesh can participate in the tournament,” Sadeque said. “We have learnt that the deputy minister [Arif Khan Joy] signed the paper but one of our colleagues found no evidence of it on the minister's movement register at the ministry yesterday [Thursday].”

After getting the GO from the ministry, the hockey team will need clearance [note verbal] from the foreign affairs ministry but they have only three work days in hand before their scheduled departure.

“The national team must get GO to take part in any tournament aboard and if we don't get it timely, it will be tough for us to take part in the qualifying tournament,” said the former national player adding that they usually GO for the national team within one week of application.

Bangladesh team is scheduled to fly for Oman on March 6 and play a practice match against Kazakhstan the following day as the nine-nation tournament will get underway from March 8. Bangladesh will start the qualifying tournament taking on against Afghanistan on March 9. The BHF has already bought tickets for players, coaches and officials.

The BHF general secretary also informed that he was supposed to communicate with Biren Shikder, the state minister for youth and sports last night and that he would inform the BHF president and air chief marshal Abu Esrar today about the issue.