Govt working to establish sports as profession: Aminul

Naogaon, Nov 10 Nov- State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque today said the government has been working to establish sports as a profession by ensuring professionalism and institutional development in the sector.

"While families generally want their children to become doctors, engineers or government service holders, few consider making them professional athletes. The government wants to change this mindset and create opportunities for sports as a recognised profession," he said.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Deputy Commissioner Inter-Upazila Gold Cup Football Tournament-2026 at Naogaon District Stadium as the chief guest.

The tournament was organised by the Naogaon District Administration and the District Sports Association.

Aminul said the government had already introduced regular sports allowances for 300 national-level athletes across the country as part of its efforts to provide financial support to players.

Highlighting initiatives to identify and develop grassroots talents, he said 40 players selected from 306 participants in the first edition of 'Notun Kuri Sports' had been permanently admitted to Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP). The government is bearing all their educational and sports-related expenses.

The second edition of 'Notun Kuri Sports' has been launched simultaneously from Khulna District Stadium across 503 upazilas, with 1,623,000 participants, including nearly 900,000 adolescent boys and 700,000 adolescent girls, he added.

Regarding employment opportunities in the sports sector, the state minister said the Ministry of Public Administration and the Finance Division had approved the recruitment of upazila sports officers in 503 upazilas. Recruitment examinations would begin following cabinet approval, with former athletes given priority.

He also announced plans to modernise Naogaon District Stadium with a full-fledged pavilion, gallery and indoor sports facilities. Renovation of dilapidated district stadiums across the country would be completed within the next five years, he added.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directives to develop sports infrastructure, Aminul said the government had received information on 553 playgrounds from 37 districts as part of its plan to establish a playground in each of the country's 4,599 unions.

The government is also working to renovate 1,000 union-level playgrounds and make them suitable for sports by next December, he said.

A total of 12 teams, representing 11 upazilas and Naogaon municipality, are taking part in the tournament. Manda Upazila faced Raninagar Upazila in the opening match.BSS