Bangladesh line up armoured personnel carriers for WC

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, (Reuters) – Armoured  personnel carriers (APC) are likely to join police vans to give  extra security for Cricket World Cup players in Chittagong,  officials said today.
Bangladesh meet England in their day-night World Cup Group B  match on March 11 and Netherlands in another late game on March  14 at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium at the country’s main port  city, some 300 kilometres (188 miles) southeast of the capital  Dhaka.
“We have made a request to the army to deploy APCs to ensure  safe movement of the players in the city,” Abul Kashem,  commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, told Reuters.
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.
“Friday’s incident tarnished the image of the country and it  should never be allowed to recur,” Abdul Karim, principal  secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters in  Chittagong.
“Security has been tightened across the city, mainly at the  stadium and hotels where players and officials of the  International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board  will be staying,” a police officer added.
Apart from security, traditional hospitality is planned for  World Cup players with exclusive zones at Patenga beach, just a  few kilometres away from the stadium, reserved for them.
“We are trying to host the players in a different manner so  that the event in Chittagong will be always remembered,” Ali  Abbas, spokesman for the local organising committee, said in a  telephone interview.