Markets will be sealed off and sniffer dogs and bomb
disposal units deployed in the stadium as part of "unprecedented"
security measures for Bangladesh's World Cup qualifying match against Australia
next week, an official said on Sunday.
Australia have confirmed their tour to Dhaka for the
November 17 fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium after a security
assessment by its officials and a representative of FIFA, football's world
governing body.
The match was thrown into doubt after Australian
cricket team cancelled their tour to Bangladesh over security fears and
Socceroos officials flagged their concerns to FIFA and the Asian Football
Confederation.
Two security officials of the Football Federation
Australia, in Dhaka since Monday, and a FIFA security officer met Bangladesh's
home affairs minister and the law enforcement agencies before giving the match
the go-ahead.
"The security for the match will be at
unprecedented level -- much higher than any other international matches ever
held in Bangladesh," said Maruf Hasan, Dhaka's deputy police chief.
Hasan, who also represents Asian Football
Confederation, said all the markets and business outlets at the stadium and in
the surrounding area will remain shut for two days before the match.
"We will seal off the shops for two days after a
thorough security check. The movement of all vehicles around the stadium will
be suspended. Our dog squad and bomb disposal unit will sweep the ground before
the match," he said.
Australian footballers are currently in Singapore
after beating Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in Canberra on Thursday. They are expected to
arrive in Dhaka just a day before the match.
The match is crucial for Australia who are second in
their group -- one point behind leaders Jordan -- and cannot afford to forfeit
three points by failing to fulfil a fixture.
The Socceroos thrashed Bangladesh 5-0 in September's
home qualifier in Perth. Bangladesh are laying bottom in their group with just
one point from six matches.
Australia's cricketers had been due to play a two-Test
series in Bangladesh in October but the tour was scrapped after a security
alert was issued by officials.
The alert was followed by the killings of two
foreigners and deadly blasts at a Shiite shrines -- attacks claimed by the
Islamic State group.
Bangladesh's government has however rejected the idea
that Islamic State is operating in the majority Muslim nation.
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