PM orders construction of sports grounds in every union

Bangla Press Desk:  Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to establish at least one playground in every union across the country to ensure a healthy, sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents and young people. He has also instructed that at least 1,000 playgrounds be established nationwide within the next two months.

The prime minister issued the directives at a meeting on establishing union-level playgrounds and expanding sports activities at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat on Wednesday (Oct 7) afternoon.

At the meeting, Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations were instructed to ensure at least one playground for every two to three wards. As part of the initiative, discussions were held on making 40 playgrounds in Dhaka North City Corporation and 90 in Dhaka South City Corporation suitable for sports and launching regular sporting activities there by December.

Emphasising the implementation of commitments made in the election manifesto, the prime minister directed that at least one playground be established in every union. He stressed expanding opportunities for sports to support the physical and mental development of the next generation, while also keeping the playgrounds open to everyone.

The meeting was informed that an initiative has been taken to establish playgrounds in phases across the country's 4,599 unions. So far, 403 pieces of khas land have been identified in 27 districts for the development of playgrounds.

According to the plan, each playground will cover an area of between three and eight bighas. A sports officer will be appointed in each upazila to ensure proper maintenance of the grounds and organise regular sporting activities.

In addition, a plan has been taken to involve around 1.4 million adolescents in 10 sporting events at the union level, including football, cricket, volleyball and badminton. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the sports programme simultaneously in all 503 upazilas from Khulna on November 5.

The meeting also placed emphasis on making existing upazila stadiums functional and suitable for sports, recovering playgrounds that have been occupied, and introducing regular sports and sports-club activities at every school.

The prime minister directed the relevant ministries and agencies to work in coordination to preserve all playgrounds across the country, ensure sports and cultural activities continue throughout the year, and build a healthy, vibrant and sports-friendly generation within the next five years.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, and Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Mahadi Amin were present at the meeting.