DHAKA, Jan 12, 2023 (BSS) - Twenty lakhs students will compete in the Sheikh Kamal Inter: school and Madrasa Athletics competition, the biggest competition in the history of country's athletics, will begin from Saturday (Jan 14) through union and upazila phase across the country. 

The competition, organized by Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF), will be held in the name after Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, the founder of modern sports and the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Addressing at a press conference held today (Thursday) at conference room of Bangabandhu National Stadium, BAF's president and principal secretary to the Prime Minister Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah said: "It's expected that nearly twenty lacks students from 500 upazilas 64 districts and eight divisions from across the country will take part in the competition which is considering the biggest athletics competition in the country and from this competition we'll find able to find the fastest man and woman athletes and best athletes in the future."

Replying to a question the BAF president said their main object is to organize the competition to make the talent hunt in a systematic way to bring out the fastest man and woman athlete so that the athletes able to show their good performance in the int'l competition. 

Replying to another quarry he said the BAF have a plan to bring out the talented athletes from the grassroots level from this competition and arrange training under the local and foreign coaches. 

Tofazzel Hossain said under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, innumerable sports supporting initiatives and plans have been formulated and their successful implementation is adding success one after another in the country's sports arena. In continuation of this, the upcoming athletics competition will also create vibrancy in the sports field of the country.

He said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an attractive and incomparable character not only in the Bengali movement, but also in the sports field. 

He had a close affinity with sports in his youth and youth. In 1973 the athletics competition from the marginal level to the national level of independent Bangladesh started by Bangabandhu's sole initiative.

 Following the path shown by the Father of the Nation, the Sheikh Kamal Inter:School and Madrasah Athletics Competition is starting nationwide.

As per the initial schedule of Sheikh Kamal Inter-School and Madrasah Athletics competition, Union and upazila phase competitions will be held from January 14-28. Apart from this, district phase competition will be held from February 1-5 and divisional phase competition from February 9-13. The schedule of national phase competition will be decided later stage.

In the competition is groups based on categories. The students of class 6th to 8th standard is 'Ka' group will participate in 100m and 200m races, high jump and long jump while class 9-10th and equivalent standard is 'Kha' group will take part in 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m race, high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin, shot put, discus throw and 4x100m relay.

BAF's vice president advocate Noor Uddin Chowdhury Nayon, MP, youth and Sports Secretary Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed, BAF's general secretary advocate Abdur Rakib Montu, were among others, also present in the press conference.