Thank you Chittagong!

Zenobia Faisal has been living in Chittagong for the last three years. Ever since she shifted to the port city after her marriage in 2011, she has been leading a hectic schedule divided mostly between taking care of her boutique and attending to her children's calls. Her everyday rota though has been made a tinge more complicated ever since the start of the ICC World T20 in Chittagong.  
With the GEC Circle -- the heart of the city -- blocked at least two times a day as part of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's security plan for the players, enhanced due to the political turmoil that dominated the country last year, the city dwellers have faced issues with the traffic jams that intensify during these periods.  
“Last week I had to walk all the way from the WASA circle to GEC Circle in the afternoon. I was on a rickshaw and was stuck in traffic for 20 minutes, before I decided to walk. I went there and found my 10-year-old daughter waiting for me outside her coaching centre, that was not a good feeling,” recalled Zenobia.
Businessman Atif Quadir, who lives in the residential town of Shugandha, had a similar tale to narrate. Quadir, who is recovering from a knee-replacement surgery, was compelled to leave his car and walk quite a distance on Monday.
“I kept my car near the edge of the road near the Indian embassy because there was no place to park there. Five minutes after I entered the embassy, I got a call from my driver who said that an officer was asking him to leave,
“After I got down I saw a police officer shouting distastefully at my driver and he was almost about to hit my car with his stick. I quickly went there and tried to reason with him, but it was of no use. The players' bus was on its way and I had to leave and cancel my appointment for that day,” said Atif
Housewife Selina Ahmed from Khulshi, who incidentally got hold of the players' training schedules reiterated similar views and smartly enough, adjusted her routine to the players' schedules.
While the tight security has no doubt been a problem for the locals, people like Selina and Atif have temporarily accepted the fact for the 'greater good'. According to them, it's been the passion of the people that has helped keep the show afloat.
“My daughter and son, they are crazy about the players. I took them to the game against Nepal and the expression on their faces were priceless. I am sure the situation will change after the 31st. But until then we just have to hold on to our seats and accept both sides of it,” said Zenobia.
Atif, who played professional cricket once upon a time, stated that the World Cup was Bangladesh's pride.   
“I have a few friends in the board and I know how hard they have worked to keep the event here. There have been problems no doubt but the event is our pride and I think every citizen has so far played their role in making it a good show,” he said.
BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon prior to the tournament had once said that he needed everyone to do their part in order to host a successful event. So far, it's been the people's passion for the game that has helped downplay the problems that have come along with it and it's expected to remain that way till April 6.
It is an aspect that could perhaps have been different in any other nation. It is something that the people of Chittagong deserve to be thanked for.