Dhaka: The formal journey of the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium began on Saturday with the first meeting of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC), who expected that the stadium will be prepared within two years.

The stadium will be a ‘state of the art’ whose capacity will be 50,000-60,000 with the facility of academy, playing field, swimming pool, gymnasium, indoors facility. The scenic beauty of the stadium will be a sight to behold, making it one of the best stadiums in the world, the BCB expected, reports the BSS.

The board has already got 37.47 acre land in Purbachal for the stadium from the Government for a symbolic price.

The PIC is formed with five-member for the time being with BCB Grounds committee chairman Mahbub Anam as the convener. The other members of the committee are-media and communications committee chairman Jalal Younus, facilities committee chairman Lokman Bhuiyan, disciplinary committee chairman Sheikh Sohel and purchase committee chairman Advocate Anwar Hossain.

‘Today was the first meeting of project implementation. The meeting was like an introductory meeting,’ Mahbub Anam said after the meeting.

‘We have sketched an outline to define how the stadium will be prepared. We will include some outside expertise in this committee. We will take some representatives from BUET as well. Moreover, we are planning to take representatives from the auditors, lawyers,’ he said.

He said after starting the work, it will take two years to complete the stadium. But BCB has the plan to make it one of the best stadiums in the world, Mahbub revealed.

‘We are hopeful to complete the works within two years,’ he said.

‘Honorable Prime Minister allocated this land to us from Rajuk with a symbolic price. Within this month we hope to get the possession of the field. After getting the possession we can go forward. Our goal is to protect the field and implement the other plans properly.

Our desire is to convert the stadium into the most beautiful one to the whole world. Since it is a green field, we can do lot of things with this. For this, we have recruited internationally skilled people and appointed consulting firm. We are also planning to manage the tender.’

The physical work of the stadium is set to start during the winter season.

‘The physical work of the stadiums will not start before winter season. BCB has already drawn a concept. The objective is to enlarge the drawing and detailing the other plans along with dressing rooms.

BCB has already taken the decision. There will be a stadium here and an academy ground will be build. That means we will get two fields. BCB has already decided these. The length of the field is 37 acres. We have planed the probable development systems. We need to go forward according to architectural designs.’

Since it will be the prime stadium of the country, Mahbub said at the same time other stadiums will be maintained properly. But he can’t make it clear whether the administrative work of the stadium will be shifted to this stadium from Mirpur.