Chattogram: Lost 'Football Frenzy' has returned to Chattogram with great enthusiasm. Whenever the ball nears the goalpost, thousands of voices erupt from the stands in a collective roar, hoping for a goal. Some spectators clap, while others rise from their seats. Chants calling out one school's name rise from one end of the stands, met with an equally spirited response from the other.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, amid the fierce battle for the ball between young footballers on the field, waves of excitement and joy sweep across the entire stadium in Chattogram. This was the scene at the final match of the "Shaheed Zia and Begum Khaleda Zia Memorial Inter-School Football Tournament," held at Chattogram District Stadium. Featuring teams from 48 secondary schools across the city, the tournament kept the stadium area buzzing with excitement for 35 days.
On the day of the final, the stands were packed to capacity with thousands of people of all ages-team members, classmates, teachers, and guardians alike. Students from various schools turned out in impressive numbers, with the majority coming from the two finalists: Patenga's Mahmudunnabi Chowdhury High School and Railway Station Colony High School. Even amid a light, drizzling autumn rain, waves of unbridled enthusiasm from the children and teenagers filled the air.
Watching from the sidelines was Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, who attended as chief guest and chief patron of the organizing committee. He was accompanied by two Members of Parliament and senior leaders from the BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal.
Comparing this unprecedented scene to the football frenzy of the 1980s, Niaz Mohammad Khan, convener of the tournament organizing committee and a former councilor, told BSS, "After many long years, we are witnessing such vibrant enthusiasm among school students at Chattogram District Stadium. Seeing this brings back memories of Chattogram in the '80s and '90s." He added that back then, children would rush to the field with their books and notebooks right after school, playing football from afternoon until dusk, setting up goalposts with nothing more than two bricks in a vacant lot.
Under the slogan "Sports as a Profession, Security for the Family," the 'Notun Kuri Sports' initiative-led by Tarique Rahman-has ushered in a new chapter in the country's sporting arena. Building on that momentum, the Chattogram city unit of BNP organized this tournament, bringing together schools from the port city.
Speaking to BSS about the tournament, chief patron Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin also said, "In the past, our youth were led astray in various ways; playing fields were illegally occupied or reduced in size, effectively stifling the sporting environment. As a result, school students became involved in crimes, including drug abuse, and juvenile gangs emerged." He added that the administration is dedicated to promoting athletic engagement among young people in conjunction with their academic pursuits, thereby cultivating them into internationally competitive, patriotic, and proficient citizens.
It is mentionable that Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury formally opened this championship on August 14, bringing together approximately 1,000 student athletes from 48 secondary educational institutions throughout Chattogram city. During the extended tournament period, the most remarkable element was the attendance and engagement of spectators.
Although 60 to 65 schools expressed interest in participating, 48 were selected for the tournament. A total of 103 matches were played over the course of the month-long event. In the third-place play-off preceding the final, BEPZA Public School and College defeated Kadam Mobarak City Corporation High School 2-0 to secure third place. In the final, Bangladesh Railway Station Colony High School emerged as champions by defeating Maizpara Mahmudunnabi Chowdhury High School 1-0.
Ershad Ullah, Convener of the Chattogram city BNP and Member of Parliament for the Chattogram-8 constituency, told BSS, "The spontaneous joy and enthusiasm displayed by the young footballers, their teachers, and their guardians over the past month is truly a source of pride." He remarked that "this generation is returning to sports" and that the excitement surrounding the tournament has resonated throughout Chattogram.
Nazimur Rahman, Chief Coordinator of the tournament organizing committee and Member Secretary of the city BNP, said, "Our younger generation was going astray-spending time on Facebook, loitering on the streets, falling prey to substance abuse, and losing their way. We undertook this initiative primarily to consider how to bring them back onto the right path, as part of the call to build a 'New Bangladesh'-a vision championed by the Honorable Prime Minister of the current government, Tarique Rahman," he added.