Bogura: State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today emphasized that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman believes sports are crucial for developing a healthy, talented, and patriotic generation. The state minister's comments were made during an exchange of views meeting held as part of the "Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026," where he served as the chief guest. The event, held at the Shibganj Upazila Auditorium, brought together heads of schools, colleges, madrasas, and physical education teachers from the Bogura-2 (Shibganj-Mokamtala) constituency.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, views sports as a vital component of national development. The Prime Minister's Gold Cup is a national initiative aimed at identifying talented footballers from grassroots levels across the country. This initiative ensures that students from both urban and rural educational institutions have the opportunity to nurture their talents.
Mir Shahe Alam stated that, following the Prime Minister's directives, the government has been working diligently to create a sporting environment in every upazila. Efforts are being made to preserve playgrounds, expand sports activities, and engage youth in positive pursuits to deter them from drugs and crime, ultimately aiming to produce athletes of international caliber.
The state minister called for the cooperation of educational institutions, teachers, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure the success of the upcoming Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Tournament. As part of the initiative, one football was distributed to each participating educational institution.
The meeting was chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ziaur Rahman and included speeches from notable figures such as Acting President of Upazila BNP SM Tajul Islam, General Secretary of Upazila BNP Advocate Abdul Ohab, Convener of the State Minister's Education Advisory Committee Professor Nazrul Islam, and others from local political, administrative, and educational sectors. The programme was conducted by Harunur Rashid Master and Headmaster Tajul Islam, members of the State Minister's Education Advisory Committee.