7 Mar 2011

Army called in as security stepped up for World Cup in Bangladesh

7:39 am on 7 March 2011

Officials say armoured personnel carriers (APC) are likely to join police vans to give extra security for Cricket World Cup players in Chittagong.

Bangladesh meet England in their day-night World Cup Group B match on March the 11th and Netherlands in another late game on March the 14th at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium at the country's main port city, some 300 kilometres southeast of the capital Dhaka.

Although the authorities have made elaborate plans including organising the army's strike force for deployment immediately in a crisis, APCs have not been used to so far to back up police and other security staff in Dhaka.

The request was made after a bus carrying West Indies players was hit by stones in Dhaka as Bangladesh fans vented their anger after the hosts were skittled for their lowest ever ODI score of 58 before falling to a nine-wicket defeat.

Abdul Karim, principal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, says Friday's incident tarnished the image of the country and it should never be allowed to recur.