Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon spoke at a press conference in Chattogram. Photo: BSS

CHATTOGRAM, July 30, 2026 (BSS) – The ‘Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Competition 2026’, the largest football tournament in the nation’s sports history, is expected to commence in the second week of August.

Announcing this at a press conference here today, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon expressed his determination to build Bangladesh's identity on the world stage by strengthening the foundation of sports from the grassroots. 

Although the matches of the tournament will begin in August, the Prime Minister is expected to personally open the event on either September 9 or 10. 

Over 1.60 lakh students from 40,231 educational institutions across the country are set to participate in this event to be organized by the Ministry of Education, he said at the press conference organised by the Ministry of Education in connection with the Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Competition at the July Revolution Hall of the Chattogram Press Club this afternoon. 

After the press conference, the Education Minister launched a road show on Jamal Khan Road in front of the Chattogram Press Club on the Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Competition. 

He then went to visit the Chattogram District Stadium, which will host the tournament’s opening. The stated that the Prime Minister's Gold Cup Tournament is being organized with the objective of positioning Bangladesh on the international stage by fortifying the foundation of sports from the grassroots level.

The primary goal of this event is to develop a healthy, skilled, and talented generation by integrating education with sports, he said, adding that this initiative will significantly contribute to the promotion of sports at the grassroots level and guide the youth in a positive direction. 

“One of our aspirations is to professionalize sports and elevate Bangladesh's sports sector to an international standard,” he added.  

The Education Minister mentioned that previously, sports events were conducted on a large scale involving 22 lakh students at the primary level. This time, the competition is being organized nationwide, engaging students from secondary, higher secondary, madrasas, and technical institutions. 

He said approximately one crore students from the country will participate in this event. Students from 19,221 secondary schools, 1,956 schools and colleges, 3,380 colleges, 9,296 madrasas, and 678 technical institutions will have the opportunity to take part in the tournament.

The education minister announced that this year’s tournament’s opening ceremony will be held at the Chattogram District Stadium, with direct support from the Prime Minister. 

During the press conference, State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, emphasized the importance of expanding sports to grassroots level for building foundation of students. 

He said the government’s objective is to identify talent at the grassroots level and provide opportunities for their growth. If players emerge from the union and upazila levels, the strength of the country's sports will be enhanced. 

The organizers expressed optimism that the event, which commenced in Chattogram, will pave the way for new opportunities in the national sports landscape and contribute to the development of future generations as skilled, healthy, and confident individuals. 

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Abu Sufian MP, Ershad Ullah MP, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Abdul Khalek, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Police Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Superintendent of Police Md. Masud Alam, Chairman of the Chattogram Education Board Professor Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury, among others, were present on the occasion.