The order came after an outcry over images of locals waving Pakistani flags during the recently concluded Asia Cup, also held in Bangladesh.
A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman said the board had issued a directive after it ‘noticed that some local fans were flying foreign flags flouting the country’s flag rules’.
“We’ve received instruction in this regard,” the spokesman told AFP, without clarifying. “As such we’ve ordered security officials and guards to make sure Bangladesh fans cannot carry or fly flags of foreign nations in the stadiums.”
The country’s National Flag Rules, 1972, states that ‘national flags’ of foreign countries can be flown on the chancery buildings of diplomatic missions as well as on consular offices in Bangladesh.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.
COMMENTS (27)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Hella you are the only SOB here and I mean it! Pak team's performance will be better than yours assuming you are BD supporter.
@Ricky: you are thinking way too much on it, it’s a game and should be left as a game. What you say ,i agree with it but not on a field of game .Btw, Bangladesh government has taken back the decision now, so who looks stupid?
Guys, why are we so insecure and childish to bring India into the equation? Remember, the ban is against ALL rivals! pathetic but that's how it is....
BD was treated as Pakistani colony and their wounds are still fresh. In Germany nobody can praise or show anything related to their own leader Hitler. Try that in any European country and you would find out how liberal they are. Pakistan was never invaded and occupied by Bengali army. It is their internal policy and we should stop playing as if we are masters not defeated and surrendered.
Aww cry me a river. Sob, Pakistanis can't seem to stop crying over BCB's decision. This is the 3rd article in ET on the topic. Save some tears for the Pak team's performance.
I guess it's not the problem with general public, it's all about politics. Bengalis have supported Pakistani teams all these years, we appreciate that. Bengali government shouldn't interfere with cricket. Things like these are too bad for country. What if tomorrow government bans to celebrate Christmas or holi. Chain of extremism shouldn't start at the first place. I wish good luck to Bengali team, I'll be happy if they win regular world cup one day
@Mirza..yes.
Check out the videos of 2004 Pak Ind series. A lot of people in ground carried indian flags and even cheered for india and welcomed Indians when they entered their stands. I was in the stadium for KHI matches and it was a very emotional sight!
Small nation small thinking
SAARC Power? Asian Block? Kashmiri studenets persecuted! Right of expression of Bangladeshi public curtailed! Reason: Support of Pakistan! Is this what we should expect from civilised and (so-called) democratic nations? :(
@Mirza.....had you been in Pakistan during the last decade, you would have remembered for sure that many Pakistanis openly cheered for Indians during the many bilateral series that took place between 2004 and 2008. And if you go back another decade, Pakistanis openly cheered for Sri Lanka against Australia in the 96 World Cup final played at Lahore.
And they say two nation theory is dead.......
And they say two nation theory is dead??
Banglaedshi government only embarrassing its people and the nation. We love the support from bengalis in the stadium. Sports without Sportsman spirit is as a body without a soul!
Mindset of a third world country. No surprise
Haseena's govenment in Bangladesh is crossing even India in hatting Pakistan.
Ban foreign music from playing in the stadium too. And everyone should wear a sari, qameez and dhoti respectively. Be national! Very national!
Is this for real??? Pathetic state of affairs...totally against the spirit!!
One word: Pathetic
How shallow :p lol
Thanks for your support, it's appriciated. Stay safe. Don't get into harms way like those Indian students.
Total nonsense
This is not a true democratic policy. However, would we allow Pakistani citizens to carry Indian flags and celebrate their victory in Pakistan?
Ultra nationalism or flat out hate for Pakistan? Whatever it is, I think this is childish but whatever floats their boat, I guess.
Stop making fools out of yourselves BCB,let the game,stay a game.
Is this a joke?