Similipal National Park opens for tourists after 7 months
Baripada (Odisha): The Similipal National Park was thrown open to visitors on Sunday after remaining closed for more than seven months in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Amid strict adherence to the guidelines, 258 tourists entered the picturesque national park in 40 vehicles from two entry points on the first day, said AK Biswal, the assistant conservator of forest of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
While 175 tourists went inside the reserve in 25 vehicles through Pithabata, 83 visitors entered in 15 vehicles through the Kaliani entry point, said Biswal, who along with STR staff greeted the visitors with roses at the entry gates.
"The visitors were enthusiastic. The vehicles, passengers, and their belongings were scanned at the entry and exit points. The footfall is likely to increase," he said.
Long queues of visitors were seen both at Pithabata near Baripada and Kaliani near Jashipur since morning for obtaining permission to enter the reserve.
The permit to enter the park through these two points were issued from 6-9 am. Each vehicle was required to have a tour guide.
All the visitors were asked to wear face masks, use sanitizers and strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including social distance during their visit, Biswal added.
The Similipal National Park, a top tiger reserve in the country, attracts thousands of tourists each year.
The authorities have made additional arrangements for the night stay of the visitors with prior booking at Barehipani, Kumari, Gudugudia, Ramatirtha, and Jamuani inside the sanctuary area.
The visiting day tourists are directed to come out of the Barehipani and Joranda waterfall sights by 3 pm and Chahala by 4 pm. All-day tourists are required to leave the sanctuary area by 5 pm, the official said.
The visitors who intend to stay overnight can make their reservations at www.ecotourodisha.com.
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BCB official calling Tamim 'an Indian agent' invites wrath of Bangladesh players
Dhaka (PTI): A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official calling former captain Tamim Iqbal "an Indian agent" has not gone down well with the players in the country.
Tamim, one of the finest openers to have come out of Bangladesh, had advised the BCB to not be driven by emotion while deciding the way forward on the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India.
Nazmul, chairman of BCB finance committee, called the left-hander opener "an Indian agent" in a Facebook post.
"This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent," he wrote.
The post received immediate backlash from former and current cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Momimul Haque and Taijul Islam.
Even the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed shock at Nazmul's comments.
"A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh. We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it.
"Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh's history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.
"Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community," the players' body said in a statement.
The 36-year-old Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals for his country in a fairly accomplished career.
"We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials," it said.
"We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible," CWAB added.
Bangladesh wrote to the International Cricket Council to move their T20 World Cup games out of India after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 edition without giving a specific reason.
"Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect," said pacer Taskin.
"I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future," he said.
Mominul added: "The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country's cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board's responsibility and ethics," said Mominul.
"A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility.
"I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action," said Mominul.
