This is in response to the letter titled “Replace 'BAN' with BD or BGD for Bangladesh” published in your daily on February 27, 2014. The writer wanted to replace 'BAN' representing Bangladesh in the score line of the cricket matches as it supposedly portrays a negative image and stated how Sri Lanka and New Zealand are designated by 'SL' and NZ' respectively instead of 'SRI' or 'NEW.' I would however like to point out that 'BAN' has been designated to us following the general norm. The first three letters of the name of the country, if the name is one-worded, are taken for the designation. Examples are 'AUS,' 'KEN' and 'PAK' respectively used for Australia, Kenya and Pakistan in the scores of the live telecast of the matches and on Cricinfo. If the name of the country has two words in it e.g. New Zealand or West Indies, the first letters from each part are assembled for the designation. That's why Sri Lanka is represented by 'SL,' not SRI and it is 'WI' for West Indies! Bangladesh is one worded and 'BAN' is just the right abbreviation in this case, just how it is 'ENG,' not 'EL' for England. If we were 'Bangla Desh,' we could have asked for BD.
Tasnim Jara
Dhaka Medical College