Bangladesh authorities shut down madrasa near stadium as part of security measures for Indian team
Bangladesh authorities have shut down an Islamic school next to a cricket stadium in Dhaka and forbidden provocative banners being flown during the course of India’s tour of the country. The Rauzatun Saliheen Alim Madrasa, located near Dhaka’s Fatullah Stadium where the two teams will face off in a Test match from Wednesday, has been asked to stay closed and to send its students home.
"This is the first time we have received a request from the government administration to keep the complex closed," said Maulana Abdus Shakoor, the highly surprised head of the institution.
Saying that such a request had never been placed before, he added, “We have been asked to declare a vacation for five days. I have got verbal permission only to keep 25 orphans in our dormitory on humanitarian grounds.”
Banners with offensive language and cartoons not allowed: BCB security
Test cricket will return to Fatullah stadium after nine years, having hosted its only five-day match against Australia in 2006, and authorities are taking all possible steps to ensure there is no disgrace.
Bangladesh Cricket Board security chief Hussain Imam said the madrassa was told to shut "as part of additional security measures" for the Indian cricketers. He also explained that such additional security measures were being enforced in light of the controversial outcome of the World Cup 2015 encounter between India and Bangladesh – something that still has a lingering bad taste in both camps.
"We will not allow anyone to enter with banners or festoons carrying offensive language or obscene cartoons," he said.
Bangladeshi madrasas and their mode of schooling have been under the scanner in recent months after two of their students were arrested over the slaughter of an atheist blogger in the heart of the country's capital.