bdnews24.com: Finance Minister AMA Muhith has set a Tk 1 billion donation target to partly fund arrangements for the Twenty20 World Cup beginning on March 16. “I have held four meetings (for the donation) this year,” he said on Sunday. Muhith spoke to reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, a week ahead of the World Cup. “Donors are double this year compared to last year. It will do if they (ICC) pay just Tk 10 to 15 million. They won’t have to pay as much as they had to last year.” In managing the arrangement cost, the government is turning to financial institutions, mobile-phone companies and industrial groups. Muhith said, “Financial institutions and mobile phone companies were turned to last time, but this time power contractors have been approached.” “Besides them, big companies like Bashundhara and Square have also been approached. They had never been contacted for donations before,” he said. “Each private bank wants to pay Tk 10 to 15 million.” The allocated Tk 1.8 billion had already been spent on stadium construction, he said. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will pay for the cost for transformers, lighting and other fixtures, he said. The Twenty20 World Cup opens with a grand ceremony on March 13 while matches start the following day.
