Master plan to build 4,599 playgrounds across country

A master plan is being implemented to prepare 4,599 playgrounds across the country to promote sports at the grassroots level, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque said.
The government has also taken initiatives to turn district-level stadiums into modern and complete sports facilities.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the inauguration of Sreemangal Cricket Academy and a newly built dressing room for players at the historic Victoria School ground in Sreemangal on Tuesday (October 6).
The State Minister said sports have no alternative in building a humane Bangladesh. The government plans to build a mini stadium in every upazila and playgrounds at union and ward levels to spread sports across the country.
Asked about illegally occupied playgrounds in different parts of the country, he said the grounds would be recovered soon.
He directed the additional deputy commissioner and upazila nirbahi officer present at the event to take necessary legal and administrative measures to recover occupied grounds, including the Sreemangal Railway Ground.
On modernising district stadiums, Mr. Haque said priority is being given to renovating existing grounds and stadiums and making them usable, alongside building new infrastructure.
The stadiums will offer facilities for football, cricket, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, chess, archery, shooting, hockey and other sports.
He said the government’s goal is not only to participate in international competitions but also to produce promising athletes through regular, long-term training and win medals for the country.
Year-round training programmes and necessary sports infrastructure are being developed for this purpose.
After the event, the State Minister inspected the renovation work at Victoria School ground. He later planted two trees on the premises as a memory of the occasion.
The event was attended by Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer and municipal administrator Md Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director Sarfaraz Sarfu, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sreemangal-Kamalganj Circle) Abdul Wahid Raju, Sreemangal Municipality Executive Engineer Zahirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreemangal Police Station Sarker Abdullah Al Mamun, Upazila Youth Development Officer Asim Kumar Kar, local BNP leader Md Taj Uddin Tajis, and local sports organisers and leaders.
Later at 2:30pm, a discussion meeting with athletes and sports organisers was held at Grand Sultan Hotel & Resort in Sreemangal. It was jointly organised by the Moulvibazar District Sports Association and the Joint Sports Council.
At the meeting, the State Minister discussed the current situation, problems, prospects and future plans for sports development in the district with local athletes and organisers. He also gave necessary guidance and suggestions for the development of sports in the district.