Omar Faruk

Amid immense enthusiasm and festivity, the national phase of the talent-hunt mega event "Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26" officially kicked off on Tuesday with a swimming competition at the Syed Nazrul Islam Swimming Complex in Mirpur.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haq formally inaugurated the national round.

Ministry of Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam attended the opening ceremony as a special guest alongside the State Minister. Additional Secretaries Amena Begum and Mahfuzul Alam Khan, along with Swimming Federation General Secretary Syed Aminul Haque Dewan Sajal, were also present at the event.

Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister Md. Aminul Haq noted that the "Notun Kuri Sports" initiative was officially launched from Sylhet on May 2 under the overall guidance and supervision of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Having successfully traversed upazila and district stages followed by divisional rounds, the tournament has now reached its final national phase.

Emphasizing that sports serve as a powerful unifying force that transcends political and ideological divides, the State Minister remarked that athletes stepping onto the field wearing the national jersey are recognized solely by their Bangladeshi identity. Recalling the recent excitement surrounding the World Cup, he stressed that this momentum must be harnessed to propel football and other disciplines forward.

The State Minister announced that while the current edition began with 8 events, volleyball and table tennis have newly been added, bringing the total number of disciplines to 10. Even before the conclusion of the inaugural edition, online registration for the second season commenced on July 1. Subject to the Prime Minister's consent, the second season is scheduled to be officially inaugurated in the first week of September from a divisional city outside Dhaka. Furthermore, plans are underway to keep the competition running year-round by forming teams across 4,589 unions and 503 upazilas nationwide.

Stating that sports provide an indispensable alternative to counter smartphone addiction and substance abuse among the younger generation, the State Minister highlighted that the government is actively working to fulfill every parent's dream of seeing their children grow up healthy and well-rounded. Exceptional athletes identified through the national competitions and various events will be enrolled in BKSP, with the government covering all expenses for their education and athletic training.

Following the opening ceremony, the swimming competition took place, after which State Minister Md. Aminul Haq distributed prizes among the winners.

The grand closing ceremony and prize distribution for top-performing athletes will be held at the Army Stadium on July 27 at 4:00 PM, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman scheduled to grace the occasion as the chief guest.