But with the whole country experiencing the fury of floods, participation in the competition is very low.

"The number of participants is almost half from last year because of the flood situation. It would have been better if we were in a position to defer the competition. But it's not possible since participants from India have already reached the city," said Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCB) general secretary Syed Sujauddin at a press briefing before the start of the competition.

He, however, informed that the school chess tournament would be held at the divisional headquarters next winter so that the deprived kids could take part.

Some 170 players, including nine from Indian cities of Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata, are taking part in the nine-round Swiss League meet.

There are three categories in the competition -- Baby Class-Class V (30 participants), Class VI-X (110 players) and girls' group (30 competitors).

The event also offers cash prize of Taka 59,000 among the top players of three groups.

It is the sixth successive year Standard Chartered bank is sponsoring the juvenile chess meet. The global bank has providing Tk three lakh for holding the meet this year.

Acting chief executive officer SAA Masrur and head of the external affairs Badrul Ahsan of the sponsors also spoke on the occasion.

Ten rated players -- four from Bangladesh and five from India -- are participating in the meet that was the launching pad for country's second Grand Master Ziaur Rahman and Abdullah Al Rakib, who is just one away from becoming Bangladesh's next Grand Master.

The ten rated players are: Mahfuzur Rahman Shaheen (2130), Minhajuddin Sagar (2113), sub-junior champion Imran Ali Elin (2111) and Arifa Khatoon Moni (1825) of Bangladesh, Sumon Bose (2051), Sk Shahid Ahmed (2046), Antarip Roy (1927) and Payel Guha (1847) of Kolkata, and Sankal Modwal of Delhi.