Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 4, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque today said the government is committed to making Bangladesh a sports-friendly nation by recognizing sports as a viable profession and expanding support for athletes.

Speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Begum Khaleda Zia Memorial Inter-Union Football Tournament at Palerhat Field in Rupsha upazila, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has attached the highest priority to the development of sports in the country.

The minister said around 300 athletes have already received sports allowances and sports cards under a government initiative to promote sports as a profession. Another 200 national-level athletes will be brought under the programme, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 500.

"We want to establish Bangladesh as a sports-friendly country and ensure that sports are recognized as a profession," he said.

Aminul Haque also announced plans to make the Khulna BKSP fully self-sufficient and to preserve and renovate playgrounds in Dhaka and other parts of the country to improve sports facilities for future generations.

He said the government also plans to establish 10 Sports Villages across the country's eight divisions and 10 regional zones, equipped with international-standard infrastructure and training facilities.

The minister said promoting sports would help build a healthier nation and contribute to creating a drug-free society.

Khulna-4 MP Azizul Bari Helal, Khulna District BNP Convener Moniruzzaman Montu, Khulna District Council Administrator Monirul Islam Bappi, former Khulna District BNP Member Secretary Abu Hossain Babu, and former BCB Director Khan Zulfikar Ali Julu attended the event as special guests. 

The programme was chaired by Molla Khairul Islam, convener of the tournament implementation committee.

The Begum Khaleda Zia Memorial Inter-Union Football Tournament features 15 teams representing the 15 unions of Rupsha, Terokhada and Dighalia upazilas under the Khulna-4 parliamentary constituency.

The opening match was played between Srifaltala Union of Rupsha upazila and Madhugram Union of Terokhada upazila.