Khulna:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the second season of the nationwide 'Notun Kuri Sports-2026-27' competition at Khulna District Stadium. The event aims to discover young sporting talent and encourage children and adolescents to participate in sports.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister launched the programme virtually in 503 upazilas across the country. The event began as Tarique Rahman entered the stadium around 345 pm, received by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque and acting Secretary Mahfuzul Alam Khan.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister was greeted by students and young athletes who waved at him from the galleries. He responded by walking across the field to wave back at them. The competition was officially inaugurated with the release of balloons and the hoisting of the national flag. Tarique Rahman also interacted with young athletes participating in the competition's 10 disciplines.
A notable highlight of the opening ceremony was a performance by a group of students from China, who showcased traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances. A significant number of 1,623,218 participants have registered online for this second season, underscoring the event's popularity.
The competition, organized under the theme 'Make sports a profession, give families confidence,' seeks to identify and nurture sporting talent among young people across Bangladesh. It is implemented by the Department of Sports under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, fulfilling a commitment in the BNP's election manifesto.
Inspired by the 'Notun Kuri' talent-hunting programme of the 1980s, this initiative aims to revive the spirit of discovering young talent in sports. The second season has expanded to include volleyball and table tennis, bringing the total number of disciplines to ten, with participation open to children aged 10 to 14.
The first season of 'Notun Kuri Sports' was inaugurated in Sylhet on May 2, aimed at fostering interest and participation in sports among children and adolescents.