DHAKA, Nov 8, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today put emphasis
on practising games and sports more, saying that it helps the youths refrain
from wrong paths like terrorism and militancy.
“Practising of sports and games keeps health and mind sound and helps the
youths keep away from stepping into wrong paths like terrorism and
militancy,” she said when members of the Bangladesh U-15 National Football
Team called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban here this evening.
The prime minister invited them to Ganabhaban for clinching the SAFF U-15
Championship held recently in Nepal.
Highlighting her government’s steps for development of games and sports in
the country, Sheikh Hasina said: “We want practice of sports to continue
throughout the year and local sports do not get extinct.”
Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken steps to build a mini stadium
in every upazila of the country. “Such stadiums have already been constructed
in many upazilas,” she said, hoping that the stadiums will be built in other
upazilas in future.
Mentioning her family’s attachment to football, the prime minister said her
grandfather and father used to play football.
“All of my family members including my brothers, sister-in-laws were
involved in sports and games … my grandchildren also play football,” she
said.
“My eldest brother Sheikh Kamal was the founder of Abahoni Krira Chakra,
which is the pioneer of modern football in Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said football is Bangladesh’s most popular game as it is
played everywhere of the country.
Terming the honour which the players earned through winning the SAFF Under-
15 Football Championship as rare, Sheikh Hasina said they will have to lead
the country in the international football arena in future.
She said the players of the Under-15 National Football team were groomed up
as the government is encouraging the children in sports and games at
grassroots level.
In this regard, she mentioned arrangements of various tournaments like
Bangabandhu Gold Cup and Bangamata Gold Cup Football Tournaments at primary
school level across the country.
The prime minister underscored the need for organizing of inter-school and
inter-district-based football competitions to develop more new players in the
country.
She also stressed imparting proper training to the age-level players so
that they could develop themselves for future.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin also spoke
while State Minister for Youth and Sports Dr Biren Shikdar and Deputy
Minister Arif Khan Joy were present on dais.
Earlier, the prime minister handed over cheques for Taka four lakh to each
of the 23 players and Tk 2 lakh each of 11 officials of the Under-15
Bangladesh Football Team.
Kazi Salahuddin and skipper of Bangladesh U-15 Football Mehedi Hasan
presented two footballs to the prime minister.