Barisal became the latest stop on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s regional tour commemorating 25 years since the country achieved Test status.
It was a big day for cricket in Barisal on Monday when the BCB President, Aminul Islam Bulbul, came to town. He got the full treatment at the local stadium—slogans, applause, flowers, the works.
They even had the Under-12 kids lined up to greet him as he came onto the field. It felt like everyone showed up. You had Mizanur Rahman, the owner of the local BPL team, plus a bunch of former and current players like Sohag Gazi and Fazle Rabbi, all there with local officials and a huge crowd of fans.
To mark the beginning of the day’s event, Bulbul released balloons and then addressed the audience. He shared what the BCB has planned for Barisal’s future in cricket.
He pointed out that Barisal Division includes six districts and currently has one official cricket coach assigned. “We’re planning to increase that to two, maybe even three,” he said.
He then laid out a proposal.
There could be two-day matches for Under-19 boys and 50-over matches for Under-19 girls. A composite team from the six districts may also be formed for more organized competitions. Bulbul said implementation could begin soon, with community support playing a key role.
“You’re the main stakeholders here,” he told the audience. “This is your division, your districts. We’ll work together to raise our cricket on the global stage.”
Local expectations weren’t limited to youth programs. Franchise owner Mizanur Rahman shared some of the requests from Barisal residents and pointed out areas needing immediate attention.
“There are seating arrangements to consider. The pitch condition must be reviewed too,” he said. “Specialists have already come. If we manage to improve the soil and organize the available resources, we can finish the upgrades before November.”
Mizanur added, “It shouldn’t take more than a month to organize. If done right, this stadium might even surpass the one in Chattogram.”
Following the main ceremony, youth cricketers from the Under-12 category played a friendly match. There was also a girls’ cricket match, a rarity in many local divisions.
For many watching in Barisal, this event felt like more than just a celebration; it felt like a promise.
Now that the BCB has completed its nationwide tour, a symbolic nod to the country’s entire Test cricket journey, the feeling on the ground is that this direct involvement could genuinely reinvigorate grassroots development.
But the real hope is that this tour translates into something more than just good publicity. The expectation is clear: these high-profile visits must lead to long-term, meaningful changes for the sport.
