Sirajganj: The Zia International Rapid Rating Chess Tournament kicked off at Ekok Sangha Club in Sirajganj town on Saturday, with a total of 75 participants from various districts across the nation.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the event was inaugurated at around 10 a.m. at the club located on Mujib Road in the municipal area. The tournament has been organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Sports Party's Sirajganj district unit, with support from the Bangladesh Chess Federation and Ekok Sangha Club.
BNP Central Executive Committee member and Sirajganj district unit General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bachchu, who also serves as the president of Ekok Sangha Club, officially opened the tournament. During the inaugural ceremony, Bachchu highlighted Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's commitment to sports, emphasizing the pledge to establish a playground in every union of the country to engage students and young individuals in sports activities. He also urged the government to consider building a modern stadium as well as an indoor stadium in Sirajganj.
Bachchu expressed optimism that tournaments like this would expand chess activities within the district, potentially nurturing new talent. District Chhatra Dal President Junaet Hossain Shobuj, Bangladesh Nationalist Sports Party Sirajganj unit convener Mohammad Hedayetul Islam Fruit, and Member Secretary Mohammad Ashraful Alam Alim were among the speakers at the event.
Joint Convener Nur-e-Alam Dakku, journalist and committee member HM Mokaddes, along with other leaders and members of the organizing committee, also attended the ceremony. Ashraful Alam Alim noted that the tournament features 75 chess players, including internationally-rated competitors, from all 64 districts of the country.
The tournament is following the rapid rating format, where each player is allotted 10 minutes with an additional five seconds per move. A total of 21 players will be recognized with prizes, supported by a prize pool of Tk 51,500. The event attracted a significant audience of both players and spectators at Ekok Sangha Club from the early hours, creating a lively atmosphere as competitors from across the nation gathered for the event.