Govt to build 10 international sports villages across Bangladesh: Aminul Haque
In the longer term, the government plans to build one sports village in each of the country’s 64 districts.
The government plans to build 10 international-standard sports villages across Bangladesh as part of a broader effort to expand sports infrastructure and promote grassroots participation, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has said.
Speaking at the final and prize-giving ceremony of the Begum Khaleda Zia Football Tournament at Osmani Stadium in Narayanganj today (18 July), Aminul said the government has prioritised the development of playgrounds on vacant land instead of constructing other structures.
He said letters have already been sent to around 300 Members of Parliament requesting eight bighas of land in each union for playground development.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"We hope that within the next five years every union will have at least one playground," the state minister said, adding that MPs, upazila nirbahi officers and deputy commissioners have already started working on the initiative.
Aminul said Narayanganj is being considered for one of the 10 proposed international sports villages. In the longer term, the government plans to build one sports village in each of the country's 64 districts.
He also announced plans to renovate existing swimming pools in 22 districts as part of a nationwide swimming initiative. Over the next five years, the government intends to build at least one swimming pool in every district, he said.
Regarding Narayanganj's Fatullah Stadium, the state minister said the government would take all necessary steps for its renovation and that work has already begun.
Aminul further said that 20 new sports tournaments would be incorporated into the national education curriculum. He added that the curriculum is being designed in a way that 60% of examination marks would be linked to participation in sports and field activities.
"If marks depend on sports participation, parents will also encourage students to go to the field," he said, adding that the goal is to spread sports activities to the grassroots level across the country.
