‘Government’s goal is to build a sports-friendly, drug-free society’

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque said sports will be made mandatory from the fourth grade from the next academic year.

At the same time, the government will introduce sports scholarships for students. He also said that the government’s goal is to build a healthy nation and a drug-free society by creating a sports-friendly environment.

He said these things while talking to reporters while visiting the Sylhet District Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The State Minister said during the previous government’s tenure, there was widespread corruption in the name of development. Its impact is still clear in the sports infrastructure. It has become even clearer seeing the current dilapidated condition of the Sylhet District Stadium.

He said that if everything goes well, the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the ‘Natun Kuri Sports Programme’ at the Sylhet District Stadium on April 30. This programme will start simultaneously in all 64 districts of the country on the same day. The first phase will include seven events including football and cricket.

Aminul Haque also said sports allowances have been started by bringing national-level athletes under the salary structure. 129 people have already been brought under this facility, and 500 more athletes will be included in the next seven days.

Regarding Bangladesh’s recent defeat in international football, the state minister said that defeat and victory are part of sports. We have to learn from the past and move forward.

The government wants to give equal importance to all sports including football, cricket, kabaddi, basketball, archery and shooting.

He also said he has instructed the concerned officials to take immediate steps to renovate the Sylhet District Stadium.

During the inspection, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Jaber Sadek, Metropolitan BNP Acting President Rezaul Hasan Kayes Lodi, General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury and other concerned officials were present.

Earlier in the afternoon, he visited the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.