The first day of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) kicked off with promises of new initiatives, and spectators seemed pleased with the fresh approach.
Upon entering the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium through Gate No. 1, banners with environmental messages were visible: “Stop air pollution, clean air is life,” “Biodiversity is life, we must protect it,” and “Say no to plastic, build a pollution-free environment.” These eco-friendly messages were displayed throughout the stadium.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been signaling a unique BPL this year, and these banners reflect that message. In addition to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change’s efforts, several new initiatives were visible on the first day for the audience.
Environmental Messages Across the Stadium
During the opening match, the captains, Tamim Iqbal and Enamul Haque, exchanged saplings as a symbol of tree planting. Almost every corner of the stadium was adorned with messages encouraging environmental awareness.
As you enter through Gate No. 1, on the right side are three banners, and on the left, there are three separate waste disposal bins. Further along, a banner reads, “Pollution-free air extends life.”
A banner in front of the BCB building promotes the protection of the national animal, the Royal Bengal Tiger: “The tiger population in the Sundarbans is growing, now at 125. We need a double century soon.”
Numerous other banners conveying similar messages can be seen across the stadium, where spectators were seen posing for pictures in front of them.
Zero Waste Zone in the Gallery
The efforts to protect the environment didn’t stop with the banners. A “Zero Waste Zone” was created in the middle of the Shaheed Mushtaq Stand, with 300 seats. This area discouraged the use of plastic and polythene.
However, during the early moments of the match, several spectators in the zero waste zone were seen eating food from single-use plastic containers. The BCB staff immediately reminded them to avoid using plastic. Food vendors were also instructed to refrain from using plastic and polythene.
Although the price for a seat in the zero waste zone was 600 BDT, compared to 500 BDT for other seats, there was no real difference. Spectators with 500 BDT tickets were also allowed to sit in the zero waste zone.
The Mascot “Dana 36”
Throughout the day, the BPL mascot “Dana 36” added excitement to the atmosphere. With colorful feathers, it interacted with the audience, dancing and entertaining them.
Mughdha Water Corner for Spectators
In honor of Mir Mughdha, who lost his life in the July mass movement, a “Mughdha Water Corner” was set up around the stadium, offering free water to spectators. There were three booths at each of the six corners, providing free water.
Spectators were relieved by the availability of free water, especially since, in the past, they would have to pay 20 BDT for a small glass of water. Saiful Islam from Narayanganj, who traveled to Mirpur to watch the match, said, “It’s great. I came from so far, and now I don’t have to buy water for extra money.”
Lower Food Prices
There were also improvements in food pricing. Previously, spectators had complained about high prices for low-quality food. On the first day of this year’s BPL, the situation seemed better. The BCB assigned different vendors to various parts of the stadium. In the East Gallery, six different vendors set up stalls selling affordable food options.
Food prices were more reasonable, with meals like chicken khichuri, beef biryani, or chicken polao available for 120-150 BDT. Fast food items such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and rolls were priced between 60 and 120 BDT. In previous BPLs, food prices ranged from 120 to 300 BDT, so spectators were pleased with the more affordable options this year.
Ticketing Issues
Despite the improvements, ticketing faced some challenges. The BCB had announced online sales for tickets, but information about them was not provided until the day before the tournament. The tickets were finally made available in the afternoon, both online and at seven branches of Madhumati Bank. However, many spectators faced difficulty purchasing tickets online.
Raihan Zarif, who came to the match with his wife, shared, “I decided to sit in the zero-waste zone, but I had trouble getting tickets online. It took a long time.”
On the other hand, Robin Badshah, who came with friends, found the process smooth, saying, “This time it was better. It only took me five minutes to get my tickets.”
Outside the stadium, there was chaos as fans struggled to get in, leading to some breaking through the main gate. Eventually, the situation was brought under control, and spectators could enter the stadium smoothly after scanning their online ticket copies at the gate.
Despite the online ticketing system, black market issues persisted, with some spectators at Gate No. 1 complaining about scalpers. There was also dissatisfaction over the late release of tickets.
