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CHATTOGRAM, Sept 8, 2026 (BSS)- Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is opening new doors of recreational activities in the urban landscape of Chattogram.

The organisation plans to construct 20 futsal courts across its 41 administrative wards, with an investment of Taka 49 crore.

In response to this pressing issue, the CCC is creating new opportunities for play in the concrete environment of the city. 

Last week, the project development proposal was submitted to the sports ministry for approval.

CCC has initiated this project to revive the childhood experiences that have been restricted to brick and wood confines, allowing them to flourish in the realm of sports. 

This initiative is part of a broader project titled "Expansion of Modern Urban Sports Facilities and Construction of Futsal Courts in Chattogram City".
 
Due to unplanned urbanisation, numerous playgrounds and open spaces have vanished from the port city. So, children and adolescents are deprived of play areas, leading to a childhood spent within four walls, often resulting in addiction to mobile devices and the internet. 

Additionally, many youths are falling into drug addiction, which poses a significant threat to their physical and mental development, as well as their social security.
 
It has been reported that the government is implementing a plan to address the shortage of playgrounds in both urban and rural areas nationwide. 

As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken steps to establish futsal facilities. The most recent meeting regarding this matter took place in the Cabinet Division on August 24, where city corporations across the country were urged to swiftly prepare and submit projects for futsal construction. 

In light of this, the CCC has embraced the "Modern Urban Sports Facilities Expansion and Futsal Field Construction Project in Chattogram City". 

Following final approval, the Ministry of Finance will provide the necessary funding for the project's execution.

According to sources concerned, the acute shortage of available space in various city wards has made the initiative of 'futsal' timely, as it can be accommodated in smaller areas compared to traditional large fields.

Officials from the Chattogram City Corporation have indicated that a multi-purpose facility like futsal, which is relatively space-efficient and can be utilized year-round, is viewed as an effective means to engage a significant number of young individuals in sports activities within limited spaces. This approach has already proven successful in numerous densely populated cities globally.
 
In this context, City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said, "The youth were quite drawn to sports. However, we now observe the emergence of teenage gangs, leading to involvement in murder, corruption, and drug addiction."

To restore the community to its former state, the Mayor announced plans to construct 41 playgrounds across the 41 wards and to renovate the fields of various educational institutions and organisations. 

He mentioned that work is currently in progress on several fields, including the renovation of the Mohsin College field in the city.
 
CCC Secretary Md. Ashraful Amin informed BSS that during a Cabinet Division meeting, they were instructed to promptly submit a project proposal for futsal construction. 

"So, a project for the establishment of 20 futsal facilities has been submitted as a pilot initiative. A separate project will be developed for playground construction in each ward, ensuring that in areas with insufficient space, at least one playground will be established between two wards," he added.
 
In the meantime, the project development proposal indicates that Chattogram, recognized as the second largest city and a key commercial and port hub in Bangladesh, has experienced significant urbanization over the past few decades. 

This rapid growth has led to increased population density, the expansion of residential and commercial areas, and rising land prices, resulting in a gradual reduction of traditional playgrounds and open spaces across many wards in the city. 

The encroachment on numerous old playgrounds, coupled with unplanned infrastructure and insufficient maintenance, has created a severe shortage of safe and quality sports grounds for children, adolescents, and the younger generation. 

In response to this situation, the Chattogram City Corporation has recently initiated efforts to construct and enhance playgrounds in various wards, exemplified by the renovation and modernization of the traditional Agrabad Jamboree Field. But, the current sports infrastructure remains inadequate when compared to the overall demands of the city.
 
Besides, the primary objective of the "Modern Urban Sports Facilities Expansion and Futsal Field Construction Project" is to provide opportunities for healthy recreation and physical activity for children, adolescents, young adults, and the general public by establishing a sufficient number of modern, safe, and environmentally sustainable futsal fields and sports facilities in different wards. 

This initiative aims to foster a sports-friendly, healthy, and livable city in the long term.