House full at the RUB

Mymensingh's football fans gave the lie to fears of a poor turnout as they filled out the 15,000-seater Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan stadium during the opening match of the JB Bangladesh Premier League's Mymensingh phase yesterday.

The enthusiastic spectators from 13 upazilas of Mymensingh and its adjoining districts thronged to the venue to enjoy the Sheikh Jamal and Chittagong Abahani match , braving the heat, humidity and security checks without complaint.

Jamalpur businessman Monwar Pasha said that he visits Mymensingh whenever a big tournament is held and that he watched several matches of the Sher-e-Bangla Gold Cup in 1991.

Sherpur journalist Hakim Babul enjoyed the event along with 12 friends, who came to Mymensingh on a hired microbus.

“Once I was a footballer but now there is almost no opportunity to watch a big match, so I didn't want to waste this opportunity,” said Shyamol Chakrabory, a bank official who enjoyed the match with his son Arpon.

Ankon Mitra, an HSC student from Tarakanda, said that he was going to enjoy a big match for the first time in his life while Baki Billah, an Honours student from Netrokona, believes holding different sporting events is an urgent need to draw young people's attention for building a nation with sound health and mentality.

Maksoda Akhter, a college lecturer, enjoyed the match with her six-year-old daughter and was overwhelmed.