President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the FIFA World Cup trophy during separate events at Bangabhaban and parliament complex respectively on Wednesday.
The trophy arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday at noon for a 36-hour tour, ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in Qatar, with the help of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), report BSS and UNB.
The trophy started its world tour in 56 states, including Bangladesh, from Dubai on May 12.
A FIFA World Cup Trophy delegation led by Cristian Lali Karembeu, the midfielder of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin called on President Hamid at Bangabhaban and showed the FIFA World Cup Trophy in the afternoon.
President Hamid welcomed the World Cup Trophy at Bangabhaban.
None has the right to touch the trophy at present, except the players of the World Cup-winning team and the head of state.
The president thanked all concerned officials, including FIFA, for bringing the World Cup football trophy to Bangladesh.
“This will make the players, organisers and supporters more enthusiastic about football and Bangladesh football will move forward in the international arena in the days to come,” Abdul Hamid hoped.
Meanwhile, the seven-member FIFA delegation called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the lobby of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.
The prime minister exchanged greetings with the members of the delegation.
According to a release from the PMO press wing, Hasina recalled her family members' involvement in sports, especially football.
She mentioned that her grandfather, father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, brothers, children and grandchildren are very sporty and athletic.
She thanked FIFA, BFF authorities and others for bringing in the original World Cup trophy to Bangladesh.
She hoped that the FIFA Trophy's arrival in Bangladesh would encourage the country's sports fans, especially the younger generation.
She said football is the most popular sport in Bangladesh. “We are working tirelessly to get our children involved in sports.”
FIFA and its sponsor also presented gifts to the prime minister.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam, Youth and Sports Secretary Mezbah Uddin, BFF President Kazi Md. Salauddin, BFF General Secretary Md. Abu Naim Sohag among others were present on the occasion.
