Buzz missing at city’s mini-Bangla for first Indo-Bangla match after unrest
Times of India | 21 February 2025
Kolkata: Even an India-Bangladesh match in the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Thursday could not get a cheer out of Kolkata's Mini Bangladesh.
Marquis Street, Free School Street, Colin Street, and Sudder Street, which once teemed with Bangladeshi tourists, would be abuzz with excitement every time India and Bangladesh clashed on the cricket pitch. The visitors from the neighbouring country and staying at different hotels in the central Kolkata neighbourhood would gather at the eateries and hotel lobbies and watch the matches on TV. But on Thursday, only a few employees at the eateries and hotels were found watching the match, reminiscing the times when large groups of fans would sit at those very places, clad in Bangladeshi jerseys, cheering their team. With the unrest in Bangladesh continuing and the visa restrictions in place, very few tourists from Bangladesh have been visiting India, which in turn, has dealt a blow to the economy of the locality. On Thursday, the silence in Mini Bangladesh was a reminder of how connected sports, politics and local economies were.
"Hotel occupancy in the area has dropped by nearly 80%, with only a handful of tourists arriving on medical visas. Once, fans would crowd the restaurants and hotel lobbies in big groups to watch matches. This would boost the business as they kept ordering food and snacks. Today, there is hardly any customer," said Hyder Ali Khan, general secretary, Free School Street Traders' Association.
The India-Bangladesh cricket rivalry grew over the years, with passionate supporters making their presence felt in Mini Bangladesh. "Even local people would gather here, supporting the Indian team, and there would be friendly banter among the supporters of the two teams. We used to have groups of fans watching together, shouting, cheering, and making friendly bets. Now that we have hardly any Bangladeshi visitor, that energy has gone missing," said Javed Alam, receptionist at Paradise Inn on Marquis Street, watching the match alone on the TV. At the restaurant in Hotel Presidency, only three employees huddled in front of the TV.
On Thursday, only 28 tourists arrived from Bangladesh, all of whom came for treatment. "I have been tracking the score on my mobile but do not have any plan to watch the match anywhere else as of now. We will take rest as we have an appointment at a hospital off EM Bypass on Friday morning," said Rauf Ahmed, who is in Kolkata with his cousin to consult a doctor about cardiac issues.
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