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State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque
Emphasizing that athletic pursuits must evolve beyond seasonal pastimes into lucrative and secure career avenues, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque declared on Saturday (October 3) that the government is actively engineering policy frameworks to establish sports as a dignified profession in Bangladesh. Delivering his address as chief guest at the concluding prize-distribution ceremony of the annual inter-departmental football tournament in Dhaka, the state minister highlighted the necessity of institutional reforms to support aspiring athletes. He observed that for decades, exceptional sporting talents abandoned competitive sports due to acute financial insecurity and the absence of post-retirement welfare cushions. The minister affirmed that the state is partnering with corporate entities and financial institutions to establish structured remuneration systems across all national sporting federations.
Addressing an enthusiastic audience comprising players, coaches, veteran sports journalists, and government employees, the state minister emphasized the profound societal benefits of fostering widespread physical culture. Haque explained that engaging young citizens in structured sporting activities represents the most effective non-punitive mechanism to steer youth away from drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, and sedentary digital addictions. He commended the Government Employees' Welfare Centre for organizing competitive sporting tournaments, noting that healthy physical recreation enhances public sector productivity and cultivates inter-agency camaraderie. The sports chief underscored that the spirit of mutual respect and discipline honed on the playing field is vital to overcoming broader national socio-political challenges.
The youth and sports ministry unveiled an ambitious grassroots infrastructure expansion program targeting rural upazilas and peri-urban municipalities. Haque announced that modern mini-stadiums equipped with solar-powered floodlights, proper drainage systems, and specialized athletic tracks are being established in every sub-district across the country. To eliminate regional disparities, the government is introducing certified talent-hunt programs in football, cricket, archery, athletics, and swimming, providing discovered rural prodigies with residential scholarships at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). The state minister emphasized that transparent, meritocratic team selection must replace historical political interference within sports federations.
Athletes, coaches, and sports commentators in attendance enthusiastically welcomed the government's professionalization roadmap, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive medical insurance for injured players. Veteran national footballers in the audience recounted painful instances where promising national players were left destitute following career-ending knee injuries due to lack of specialized medical coverage. Sports journalists urged the ministry to hold national sports federations accountable for timely auditing of public grants and corporate sponsorships. Haque assured the gathering that a statutory Sports Welfare Trust will be launched next quarter to provide lifelong monthly allowances to indigent former national athletes.
Concluding his address, the state minister reiterated that national sporting triumphs serve as powerful catalysts for patriotism and international prestige. State Minister Md. Aminul Haque stated during the ceremony, "Sports possess the unique magic to unite our nation across all divides; our government will ensure that any boy or girl who dedicates their youth to carrying Bangladesh's flag on the global stage can do so with financial dignity and career security." The minister subsequently distributed championship trophies and cash awards to the winning football squads amidst thunderous applause. The government's forward-looking sports policy represents a major paradigm shift toward nurturing athletic excellence and social harmony across Bangladesh.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/sports/1f1bf4c7-e123-6c20-8200-aabe07f75e00