40-yr-old sports building in shabby state
The Upazila Sports Association building in Mirzapur has remained in a severely dilapidated condition for nearly four decades, raising fears that it could collapse at any time and cause a major accident.
The building, located in the Baimhati area of Mirzapur upazila headquarters, has deteriorated due to years of inadequate maintenance and a lack of funds for repairs. Water leaking through the roof and walls has caused bricks, mortar, sand and iron rods to crumble.
The roof is covered with trees, weeds and creepers, further worsening the condition of the 47-year-old structure.
The upazila administration and municipality declared the building abandoned in 2016 and put up a red warning sign prohibiting entry after considering it dangerous. Despite this, activities of the Upazila Sports Association and several voluntary organisations continue to be carried out there.
A visit to the building on Tuesday found it standing in a highly risky condition.
The mini stadium in front of the building is also in poor condition. As the ground is lower than the adjacent road, it remains waterlogged for most of the year, disrupting sporting activities.
DM Shafiqul Islam Farid, member secretary of the Upazila Sports Association, said the mini stadium needs to be raised by filling it with soil.
“Following demands from local residents, the upazila administration and Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, MP for Tangail-7 (Mirzapur) and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, have taken up a project to develop the ground by filling it with soil,” he said.
He said several officials, including a former state minister and secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, had previously visited the building and promised to construct a new one after seeing its dilapidated condition.
“However, the promise and fund allocation have yet to materialise. Rebuilding the Sports Association building and carrying out necessary repairs have become extremely urgent,” he said, urging the Ministry of Youth and Sports and higher authorities to provide the necessary support.
Zahirul Alam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and president of the Upazila Sports Association, said sports play an important role in guiding young people towards a healthy and productive path.
“There is no alternative to sports for guiding young people in the right direction. For this, they need a proper Sports Association building and a good playing field,” he said.
He said the administration was communicating with the local MP, the deputy commissioner, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other relevant ministries.
“Subject to the allocation of funds, a new Sports Association building will be constructed and the field in front of it will also be developed,” he added.
Newly elected MP Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui has also assured support for rebuilding the mini stadium and Sports Association building, saying sports should be given priority to unite and engage young people.
According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, the Sports Association building was constructed in 1979 on 8.28 decimals of land in Baimhati mouza under JL No. 143 and plot No. 339.
The foundation stone was laid by the then Tangail Deputy Commissioner Md Rezaul Islam under a project funded by the Dhaka Divisional Development Board.
The building has long served as the centre of sports activities in the upazila. Various national programmes organised by the upazila administration have also been held there.
Players Arafat Rahman Rajib, Imran Hossain Emon, Abu Kawsar Chapal, Palash, Tushar and Sajib, along with local residents, have demanded immediate renovation of the building and development of the mini stadium.
