Don’t involve in politics during sports life

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday called on athletes not to be affiliated with any political party or group during professional sports tenure, saying rather they should represent the country through sporting excellence.

“In your (sports persons) professional sports career, you should not get involved with any political party or group, rather represent the country through your sporting excellence,” he said, reports BSS.

The prime minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his office.

Tarique Rahman also urged the sports persons to lead Bangladesh to a higher position in the global sports arena by winning games at home and abroad.

“I believe that if you have patriotism, a strong will, and team spirit, no one can stand in your way of successful progress,” he said.

The premier said that sports is no longer just a matter of hobby, entertainment, or physical exercise, but is now recognised as a profession worldwide.

“Bangladesh will also not lag behind. Before the 2026 national election, we pledged in our party manifesto that if the BNP gets the opportunity to run the state through people’s mandate, we would establish sports as a profession.

The implementation phase of that promise formally began,” he added.

Noting that defeat does not mean losing, but is part of victory, Tarique Rahman quoted Albert Einstein as saying: “A person who has never been defeated has never done anything”.

He said the government has started implementing a plan to bring sportspersons under a structured salary framework based on a specific policy so that they can pursue sports professionally without financial uncertainty for themselves and their families.

“For the first time in the country’s history, athletes are being brought under a salary structure and provided with sports allowances,” the premier said.

Highlighting the government’s other initiatives to improve the living standards of the countrymen, he said his government has already introduced Family Card, honorarium allowances for imams, khatibs and religious leaders of other faiths, and a nationwide canal excavation programme.

The prime minister also said that the government is set to launch the ‘Farmers Card’ programme on April 14 from Tangail district.

Stating that the government is implementing its commitments step by step, he said, “As part of that continuity, the ‘Sports Card’ has been launched”.

Tarique Rahman said physically challenged individuals who are capable of contributing to sports will also receive sports cards.

Under the theme “Sports for All”, he said the government has taken all initiatives to ensure facilities for underprivileged groups and persons with special needs, who want to participate in sports, both at home and abroad.

Highlighting the government’s plans, the premier said a wide range of programmes has been undertaken to establish sports as a profession.

Noting that cricket and football are currently the most popular sports in the country, he said apart from these, there are many other sports like archery, boxing, yoga, gymnastics, carrom, weightlifting, wushu, swimming, para swimming, athletics, para athletics, karate, sepak takraw, table tennis, kabaddi, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, bridge, futsal and badminton.

“If these sports are supported by the government and private sector, those also can bring honor to the country,” he said.

Tarique Rahman also mentioned that Bangladesh recently became champions in SAFF women’s futsal for the first time.

He said the government has started implementing short, medium, and long-term plans to develop sports as profession.