State Minister for Sports Md. Aminul Haque on Sunday said sports are essential for bringing about social change and protecting the younger generation from addiction to digital devices.

He made the remarks while visiting Khulna District Stadium this noon to inspect preparations for the launch of the second season of ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ on November 5.

During the visit, the state minister inspected the overall preparations and security arrangements at the stadium.

Following the inspection, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would join the inauguration ceremony live from Khulna District Stadium at 3:00 pm on November 5, marking the simultaneous launch of the programme across 503 upazilas nationwide.

Aminul said the initiative aims to identify young sporting talent in remote parts of the country and help them develop their potential.

Many promising athletes identified during the first season are now receiving training at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), he said, adding that the government is committed to supporting their development into professional athletes while ensuring their education.

He said the sports festival was designed to help combat drug abuse and protect young people from excessive screen time and addiction to digital devices.

The initiative has received a strong response this year, with around 16,23,000 young athletes registering online, he said.

Teams will be formed across 4,599 unions nationwide, involving nearly 14 lakh athletes. After competing at the union, upazila and divisional levels, participants will advance to the national-level final round, scheduled for May or June next year.

Regarding sports infrastructure in Khulna, Aminul said work had begun to complete the unfinished gallery at the district stadium and upgrade the local BKSP facility.

From January next year, students at the local BKSP will have access to comprehensive educational and training facilities on-site, he added.