PM Hasina opens Bangabandhu BPL

PM inaugurates Bangabandhu BPL on Sunday evening at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Photo: PID
PM inaugurates Bangabandhu BPL on Sunday evening at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Photo: PID

Prime minister Hasina wished for the competition's 'grand success' as she inaugurated the special edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), rebranded as Bangabandhu BPL to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his hundredth birth anniversary year, on Sunday evening at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, UNB reports.

The Bangabandhu BPL will begin on Wednesday (11 December) with Chattogram Challengers taking on Sylhet Thunder at the same venue.

A total of 46 matches will be played in the event across three venues in the country, and a total of seven teams will fight for the title.

The day's opening programme started at 6:00pm with the song 'Dak Diyachen Doyal Amare' by Moidul Islam Khan 'd Rockstar' Shuvo. It was late by 35 minutes as the original starting time was at 5:25. After Shuvo, Reshmi Mirza took the stage.

Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif pose with prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: BCB
Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif pose with prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: BCB

Rockstar James took the stage at 6:40pm and started his performance with the song 'Sultana Bibiyana'. Right after the first song, prime minister came to inaugurate Bangabandhu BPL at 6:50. Three minutes later, Sheikh Hasina announced the inauguration of BPL.

"I am hoping a grand success of Bangabandhu BPL this year. With thanks to all who came here tonight I am inaugurating the event," Hasina said while inaugurating the event.

Right after the official inauguration, James resumed his musical performance and sang 'Ma', 'Chal Chale' and 'Taray Taray Rotiye Dibo' respectively.

After James, Indian singer Sonu Nigam took the stage at 7:40pm. Another Indian singer Kailash Kher is also scheduled to perform in the opening ceremony of BPL. The event will end with the performances of the Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.