Dhaka:State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque has emphasized the government's commitment to prioritizing player development and comprehensive welfare packages to advance the country's sports sector. He made these remarks as the chief guest at a reception for the Bangladesh U-15 football team, which recently finished as runners-up in the E-tier of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh ranked 130th overall among the 189 participating countries at the event. The State Minister commended the young players for their passion and commitment and recalled his visit to the Bangladesh Football Federation headquarters, where he witnessed the players' determination and patriotic spirit.
Highlighting the government's strategic vision, Aminul stated that the Prime Minister had directed the ministry to focus on player development and access to sports facilities rather than solely on infrastructure construction. In line with this directive, the government has initiated regular sports allowances for national athletes to ensure their financial security and professional development, with plans to expand the program gradually.
The State Minister also underscored grassroots sports initiatives, particularly the 'Notun Kuri Sports' program, which has successfully identified 40 outstanding athletes who will be enrolled at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan starting in January. The government will cover their academic and specialized sports training costs up to the Higher Secondary Certificate level.
Aminul further stressed the role of sports in building a healthy nation and deterring youth from drug abuse and screen addiction. He outlined an ambitious plan to develop sports infrastructure at the grassroots level, with the goal of establishing a functional playground in each of the country's 4,599 unions. The ministry has compiled data on 553 union-level playgrounds across 37 districts and plans to assess 1,000 venues by December to facilitate open sporting activities.
At the ceremony, the State Minister announced a cash award of Taka one lakh for each member of the U-15 team on behalf of the ministry and the Prime Minister. He emphasized that the financial reward is a message of support from the government and the nation for the athletes, encouraging young sports enthusiasts across the country to prepare themselves to represent Bangladesh on the international stage.