Dhaka, Feb 17 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday hoped the fraternity among nations will be further strengthened through the cricket World Cup and said her country felt privileged to be one of the co-hosts of the 14-nation tournament.
‘We feel greatly privileged to co-host the cricket extravaganza in our beautiful country,’ Hasina said in her inaugural speech at the tournament’s opening ceremony at a packed Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
‘I hope the fraternity among the nations will be further strengthened through this World Cup,’ she said, drawing applause from the 25,000-strong crowd.
She recalled the martyrs of the Bengali language movement and referred to her father Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujibur Rahman for the way he steered the language movement which catalysed the liberation movement later.
‘I also recall the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had steered the language movement,’ she said in her speech delivered in both English and Bengali.
‘I congratulate the cricket loving public for their great enthusiasm and cooperation to make this event a grand success. I would like to extend my thanks to the ICC for selecting Bangladesh to host the opening ceremony and eight matches.’
