Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, May 6, 2026 (BSS) - The much-awaited ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ will begin on May 16 at the divisional level in Rajshahi to nurture hidden sports talent among children and adolescents. 

Rajshahi Divisional Administration and the District Sports Office have already started extensive preparations for the event.

A preparatory meeting  to this end was held today in the office conference room of the Divisional Commissioner.
 
The meeting was chaired by Additional Divisional Commissioner Rezaul Alam Sarkar. 

Officials from various departments, sports organizers, and concerned members participated in the meeting.

It was informed at the meeting that "Notun Kuri Sports" will be inaugurated on May 16 at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
 
The closing ceremony of the competition will be held on May 20. A total of 8 events -- including football, cricket, kabaddi, athletics, badminton, chess, swimming, and martial arts -- will be held in this competition with the participation of children and adolescents from the Rajshahi region.
 
As per the agenda, the action plan was presented at the meeting by Md. Jahangir Hossain, Member Secretary of the "Notun Kuri Sports" Rajshahi Regional Committee and District Sports Officer.

 He said that the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ program is being implemented nationwide at the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

On May 2, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman launched the nationwide talent hunt programme titled 'Notun Kuri Sports', at a function in Sylhet Stadium.

He further said that the main objective of this program is to discover the hidden sports talents of children and adolescents aged 12 to 14 through sports alongside education. 

Sports play an important role in the physical and mental development of children, as well as in shaping them into confident and patriotic citizens.
 
The meeting held detailed discussions on the goals, objectives, and rules of the competition at the upazila, district, regional, and national levels. 

Various guidelines and decisions were taken to organize the competitions smoothly.
 
Later, open discussions were held and opinions from the members present were taken. The organizers expressed hope that ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ will play an important role in increasing interest in sports among children and adolescents in the Rajshahi region, as well as in developing new sports talent.