Dhaka: Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced today that sports are being incorporated into the school curriculum to foster sportsmanship among children. He made these remarks while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the national-level Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament (Boys-Girls) 2026 at National Bangla High School in Mirpur.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister emphasized that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman places great importance on children's development, prioritizing 'Learning with Happiness' to ensure an enjoyable educational experience. The government is taking steps to make sports mandatory for students, as seen with the organization of this football tournament for primary school students.
Dr. Milon also mentioned initiatives to provide school uniforms across Bangladesh and the introduction of mid-day meals to combat malnutrition and help students focus on their studies. He plans to extend the mid-day meal program to all schools nationwide by the end of the year. Highlighting the significance of children for the nation's future, he stated that the tournament would play a special role in developing their sporting skills.
Presiding over the event was Primary and Mass Education Secretary Md. Shakhawat Hossain, with State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj and Prime Minister's Education Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin in attendance. Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Shahina Ferdousi delivered the welcome address.
State Minister Bobby Hajjaj, speaking as a special guest, reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the needs and potential of students, aiming to build a prosperous and confident Bangladesh. Dr. Mahdi Amin echoed this vision, expressing the goal of developing sports as both an entertainment and professional sector, alongside an education system that equips students to become skilled and worthy citizens.
The tournament, which began on April 6 at the union and municipality levels, saw participation from 65,569 government primary schools, with 11,10,814 players from 65,342 boys' teams and 11,03,291 players from 65,321 girls' teams. It progressed through various competition levels, culminating in today's national-level games involving 16 teams, including divisional champions from 8 divisions (8 boys and 8 girls). The final phase of the tournament commenced with these matches.