Sports Desk

The 9th National Baseball Tournament 2026 officially commenced on Friday on the grounds of the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur, Gazipur on Friday.

Organized by the Bangladesh Baseball Federation with the comprehensive cooperation of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), the three-day competition was formally inaugurated by the Director General of the force, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, who attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest.

This year's tournament is being held under the slogan “Power of baseball, commitment of youth; sports will be a profession, families will find security.”

A total of 14 teams from different corners of the country, including powerhouse squads from Bangladesh Police and the host Bangladesh Ansar, are participating in the meet. Due to the Bangladesh Baseball Federation currently lacking its own dedicated stadium, the national event is being hosted at the state-of-the-art sports facilities of the Ansar and VDP Academy.

In his inaugural address, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud praised the event, stating that organizing an international, modern, and highly potential sport like baseball is a timely initiative to engage the country's youth in constructive activities and unlock their latent talents.

He emphasized that the extensive organizational network of the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, which stretches right down to the grassroots level, would be instrumental in expanding the reach of baseball across Bangladesh.

The opening ceremony also featured speeches from the Additional Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, Brigadier General Mamunur Rashid, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Baseball Federation.

A large number of high-ranking military and civil officials of the force, prominent sports organizers, coaches, athletes from the participating teams, and invited dignitaries were present.