Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today spoke atMohammadpur Government Physical Education College ground in the city. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today stressed on developing talent and merit in children through sports. 

“Not competition, but you have come here to develop your talents and merits through sports,” she said while addressing the closing ceremony of Dhaka Divisional Annual Sports and Cultural Competition-2026 as the chief guest.

Dhaka Divisional Social Services Office, under the Department of Social Services organized the competition on Mohammadpur Government Physical Education College ground in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, the social welfare adviser mentioned sports and cultural practices as one of the means of building discipline, confidence and human values ??in children.

She put emphasis on the empowerment of the backward sections of the society and the development of children's talents.

The job of the Ministry of Social Welfare is to stand by the children, women, disabled and underprivileged people of the society and create a suitable environment for them so that they can develop their talents properly, Sharmeen said. 

She said no one has come here to participate in a competition but everyone has come to play. “Winning and losing is just a part of learning,” she added. 

The adviser said the word "disabled" has no meaning to her while this word "disabled" must be eliminated. “No person in Bangladesh is disabled. I see everyone as potential and talented,” she added.

Sharmeen said Bangladesh is also moving forward on the same path as there are sports and entertainment arrangements for the disabled worldwide. 

“With the approval of the Ministry of Social Welfare, a new stadium is under construction in the country, where there will be special sports, training and entertainment facilities for the people with special needs,” she said.

Declaring all the contestants participating in the programme as winners, Sharmeen said this programme is not just an event - rather it is a continuous practice to develop the future generation in a goal-oriented manner. 

The adviser enjoyed the wonderful performance of the local culture through the children's display. 

Later, he distributed the prizes. 

Presided over by Ayesha Akhter, Director of the Dhaka Divisional Social Services Office, the programme was attended by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Mamtaz Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Saidur Rahman Khan, and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare Md Kamal Uddin Biswas.