Spectators enraged by ticketing issues once again resorted to vandalism at Mirpur Stadium, this time setting fire to a ticket booth on Thursday (2 January), just before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) resumed after a day’s break.
The incident occurred ahead of the day’s match, as frustrated fans gathered at the designated ticket counter near Mirpur’s swimming complex.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had arranged for ticket sales both online and at physical booths.
However, by 11:30am, the situation spiralled out of control when spectators, dissatisfied with the ticketing process, began to push against the bamboo fencing.
The crowd eventually broke through the gates, stormed the ticket booth, and proceeded to vandalise it.
At one point, the agitated fans set the booth ablaze. The fire was later brought under control by the fire service, and law enforcement subsequently secured the area to prevent further escalation.
An eyewitness told Dhaka Post that the crowd had initially queued peacefully for tickets.
However, tempers flared upon hearing that tickets were unavailable at the location, leading to the violent outburst.
This is not the first time the BPL has seen such disruptions.
On the league’s opening day, similar incidents of vandalism occurred at the gates of Mirpur Stadium.
Tickets for this year’s BPL matches are primarily being sold online, with additional availability at select branches of Madhumati Bank.
On 31 December, however, due to the bank holiday, the BCB facilitated ticket sales through physical booths, including the one at Mirpur, which became the flashpoint for Thursday’s unrest.
