The skies opened up over the capital on Tuesday afternoon, drenching the National Stadium in a torrential downpour that cut short Bangladesh’s first training session for the Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against Hong Kong, China at home on October 9.

Women’s team footballers Rupna Chakma and Monika Chakma, men’s team’s goalkeeper Mitul Marma and boxer Suro Krishna Chakma, among others, voiced their concern over the increasing number of rapes and urged for peace to return to the hills.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s crunch AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against Singapore on June 10 -- a sold-out home fixture during the Eid-ul-Adha break -- Mitul finds himself once again in the spirit of sacrifice.

With 15 clean sheets in 21 games in the Federation Cup and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Abahani goalkeeper Mitul Marma has been the standout performer this season.

In the highly anticipated match at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, neither Kings nor Abahani could create any clear-cut chances in the first half, but the holders headed to the interval with an extra-man advantage.

Goalkeeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom said the competition among the players of the national team has significantly increased in recent times.