Mejbah Ahmed and Shirin Akhter, the reigning fastest man and woman will make their bid to retain their supremacy in the national athletics when the 41st NRB Commercial Bank National Athletics Championship will start from tomorrow at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).
A total of 500 athletes from across the country will compete in 36 events - 22 for men and 14 for women’s in the three days meet.
This time the national athletics meet will get a huge inspiration when the vice-president of the International Ameture Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the president of the Asian Athletics Federation (AAF) General Dahlan Al Hamad will inaugurate the meet as the chief guest.
Dahlan Al Hamad, President, also the president of the Qatar Athletics Federation has already been arrived yesterday.
Mejbah, recorded six times (three times national, twice in summer athletics and once in the Bangladesh Games) the fastest man honour of the country while Shirin Akhter emerged for three times with twice in national and once in summer.
Both the athletes are the former students of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha (BKSP) and now they have joined Bangladesh Navy team.
Besides, AAF president, Arif Khan Joy, deputy minister for youth and sports, Nazmul Hassan Papon MP, president, Bangladesh Cricket Board, Tomal Pervj, chairman, governing body of the NRB Commercial Bank will also be present as special guests in the opening ceremony.
Faruqul Islam, vice- president and Abdul Rakib Montu, general secretary of the Bangladesh Athletics Federation stated all in a press conference at Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday.
This time the organisers are trying to maintain the electronic timing while the joint secretary, Ketab Ali said, “We are trying our best to use the electronic timing device and will make a trial tomorrow (today) and we are 90 percent hopeful that we will be able to maintain the electronic deviser.”
The budget of the competition was estimated for Taka 16,34,000 (approximate) while the sponsor company NRB Commercial Bank will provide Taka 8,00,000 and rest of the amount will be expended from the fund of the federation.