Dhaka:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the establishment of at least one playground in every union and the setup of 1,000 new playgrounds across the country within the next two months. This initiative aims to foster a healthy, sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents, and young people.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister issued these directives during a meeting at the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting focused on establishing union-level playgrounds and expanding sports activities. Specifically, Rahman emphasized ensuring at least one playground for every two to three wards in Dhaka's two city corporations.
The meeting also discussed plans to make 40 playgrounds in Dhaka North City Corporation and 90 in Dhaka South City Corporation suitable for sports, with regular activities to begin by December. These efforts align with the pledge made in the BNP's election manifesto to provide playgrounds in every union.
Initiatives have been launched to establish playgrounds across all 4,599 unions in phases. To date, 403 sites of khas land have been identified in 27 districts for development as playgrounds, ranging from three to eight bighas in size.
Additionally, a decision has been made to appoint a sports officer in each upazila to maintain the playgrounds and organize sporting events. The government plans to involve around 14 lakh boys and girls in 10 different sports at the union level, including football, cricket, volleyball, and badminton.
Prime Minister Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the sports program simultaneously in all 503 upazilas from Khulna on November 5. The meeting also discussed making existing upazila stadiums operational, recovering occupied playgrounds, and introducing regular sports activities in schools.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for coordination among ministries and agencies to preserve playgrounds, continue sports and cultural activities year-round, and build a healthy, beautiful, and sports-friendly generation within the next five years.
The meeting was attended by Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, DNCC Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam, and Prime Minister's Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin.