Bogura:State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque has urged athletes to compete with increased commitment, dedication, and patriotism to bring honor and success to the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md Aminul Haque expressed optimism that the "Arafat Rahman Para Sports Village" in Bogura will soon be constructed, providing international-standard facilities and social protection for athletes with disabilities. He made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at a ceremony distributing sports kits to Bangladesh's para-athletes participating in the Aichi-Nagoya 5th Asian Para Games.
The event was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mahbubul Alam, and officials from the National Paralympic Committee of Bangladesh. The state minister highlighted the country's passion for sports and the expectations for athletes to succeed internationally. He emphasized that representing Bangladesh in major sporting events and achieving success is both a moral and social responsibility.
Md Aminul Haque noted that despite past failures, the current government has developed a new action plan to be implemented over the next four and a half to five years, aimed at transforming the sports sector. He praised para-athletes, citing Chaiti Rani's gold medal at the Para Youth Games as an inspiration to the nation, and expressed hope for more success at the upcoming Asian Para Games.
The state minister outlined various government initiatives to support athletes' welfare, including measures for social security, dignity, and safety, such as introducing a special 'Sports Card.' He reiterated the commitment to constructing the Arafat Rahman Para Sports Village to provide world-class training facilities for athletes with disabilities.
In response to Bangladesh's disappointing performance in 22 events at the recent Asian Games, Md Aminul Haque mentioned that a high-level evaluation committee has been formed to investigate the reasons behind the underperformance. The government is analyzing mistakes, taking corrective measures, and planning future actions accordingly.