Bangladesh to clear beggars from streets ahead of World Cup

DHAKA - The Bangladesh government plans to clear beggars off the streets of capital Dhaka ahead of next month’s ICC World Cup, officials said Tuesday.

The beggars would be taken to rehabilitation centres, Home Minister Sahara Khatun told reporters after a meeting of the committee dealing with security during the World Cup.

Hawkers will also be shunted out, officials said, to ensure that there are no security glitches during the country’s largest sporting event, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Impoverished Bangladesh, where most of the 153-million-strong population are cricket fans, is hosting the inaugural ceremony of the World Cup Feb 17 and eight other matches in Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong.