Bangladesh Fans Protest for More World Cup Coverage

Members of a Bangladesh sporting association formed a human chain Friday demanding that the state-owned television station show more World Cup matches. "Most of the districts in Bangladesh do not have satellite cable connection. They cannot see all the matches of the World Cup, so we want all the matches shown on the national terrestrial television," said former national goalkeeper and protest organizer Kaiser Hamid. The protest was staged by the Combined Sports Family, an association whose members include former professional athletes and officials such as referees and coaches. About 100 members formed the human chain outside the government secretariat in the capital to urge the government to boost the number of matches being shown on the state-owned BTV. "We also demand that the power officials do not cut the power during the matches so that everyone in the villages can live and breathe football," Hamid said.

The World Cup is attracting massive interest in sports-obsessed Bangladesh. Flags of the two most popular teams -- Brazil and Argentina -- can be seen flying everywhere from rickshaws to office buildings. In the southeastern city of Chittagong, big screens put up to show matches have been attracting so many people from outlying villages that the city is regularly brought to a standstill.