Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque has said on Sunday the government aims to create safe and inclusive sporting environment for people of all ages, from children to aged over 60 in a bid to ensure their participation in sports.

“Sports are for everyone and know no age limits. Our goal is to ensure a safe environment where everyone, from children to people aged over 60, so that they can go to playgrounds and participate in sports,” Aminul said while inaugurating a table tennis competition marking the 72nd founding anniversary of the National Press Club.

National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Syed Abdal Ahmed and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Mohammed Kader Gani Chowdhury were also present at the inaugural ceremony.

Following the prime minister’s directives, the youth and sports ministry plans to establish a playground in every union across the country, Aminul said.

‘We have already received information on 403 playgrounds from 27 districts and  hope to develop 1,000 playgrounds by December to create opportunities for children, young people and senior citizens to engage in sports,” he informed. 
He added that the initiative would help people improve their physical and mental well-being through regular sporting activities.

Aminul said table tennis had been included in the second edition of the New Buds Sports programme, with teams to be formed in 4,599 unions across the country.

The second edition of the programme is set to begin in around 503 upazilas. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate it from Khulna in November, he added.

“The government is also working to promote a wide range of sports at the grassroots level, including volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming and martial arts, alongside football and cricket,” the state minister said.
He said that Bangladesh had considerable potential to thrive in other sporting disciplines, particularly individual events.

Aminul said the government had taken initiatives to make sports a viable career option, including the introduction of sports allowances and sports cards for athletes.

“The first edition of New Buds Sports has concluded, while preparations are underway for the second edition. The programme has been incorporated into the annual sports calendar to ensure its regular organization and continuity for seven to eight months each year,” he said.

The initiative aims to keep children engaged in sports throughout the year, except during examination periods, helping them maintain healthy lifestyles, spend less time on digital devices and stay away from drugs, he added.
The state minister also said a new textbook titled Sports would be introduced from Class IV under the ensuing academic curriculum. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports are jointly working on the book.

The textbook will initially be introduced at the primary level before being gradually extended to higher classes, he said, adding that the initiative would help develop a new generation with greater enthusiasm for sports.

Aminul said construction of stadiums in every upazila was underway as the government also planned to establish sports villages at district level.

However, activities related to the proposed sports villages have been temporarily suspended due to the economic slowdown caused by the ongoing energy crisis. A separate para-sports village is also being planned for athletes with special needs, he added.
Emphasizing the integration of sports into the education system, the state minister said making sports compulsory from Class IV and incorporating them into the year-round academic curriculum could bring qualitative changes to society.

Recruitment of coaches for individual sporting disciplines is underway, he said, adding that appointing sports teachers in schools could create substantial employment opportunities while improving the country's sporting standards.

Speaking at the event, BSS managing director Mohammed Kader Gani Chowdhury said the state minister had taken several initiatives under the prime minister's leadership to encourage children to return to playgrounds.

He said the initiatives were beginning to address a longstanding demand to bring children back to sports.
“Sports teach discipline, obedience and patriotism. These are essential elements of life that we have repeatedly overlooked. Sports are a fundamental basis for children's development,” the BSS MD said.

He observed that children were increasingly staying away from playgrounds because of academic pressure and the growing influence of technology.

Describing the plan to establish playgrounds in every union as a landmark initiative, he expressed hope that it would help prepare children to meet the challenges of the 21st century.