Prime Minister orders to build playgrounds in every union

Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has ordered the government to build a playground in every union of the country. He said this will fulfil the election manifesto and give children, teenagers and young people a healthy, beautiful and sports friendly environment. He also told officials to set up at least one thousand playgrounds across the country within the next two months. State Minister for Youth and Sports Mr. Aminul Haque told journalists about these decisions after the meeting.

The Prime Minister gave these orders yesterday afternoon at a meeting on setting up union based playgrounds and expanding sports activities. The meeting took place at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat. He told Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations to ensure at least one playground for every two to three wards. The meeting discussed making 40 grounds in Dhaka North and 90 grounds in Dhaka South ready for sports by the end of the year, with regular sports programmes.

Mr. Rahman asked officials to keep the manifesto promise by building at least one playground in each union. He also stressed more sports chances for the physical and mental growth of the next generation. He wants all grounds to stay open to everyone. The meeting heard that the government has started a step by step plan to build playgrounds in all 4,599 unions. So far, 403 khas land plots have been identified in 27 districts, and each ground will measure three to eight bighas.

The meeting decided to appoint one sports officer in every upazila to maintain the grounds and run regular sports programmes. The government also plans to involve about 14 lakh boys and girls in 10 sports events at the union level, including football, cricket, volleyball and badminton. The Prime Minister will launch this programme in 503 upazilas at the same time from Khulna early next month. The meeting also stressed making upazila stadiums active and fit for sports. It also stressed taking back grounds that others have grabbed, and starting regular sports and sports clubs in every school.

The Prime Minister told all related ministries and agencies to work together. He asked them to protect every playground, keep sports and cultural activities going all year, and build a healthy, beautiful and sports friendly generation within five years. Education Minister Mr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mr. Asadul Habib Dulu, and State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mr. Mir Shahe Alam attended. State Minister for Youth and Sports Mr. Aminul Haque, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mr. Shafiqur Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Mr. Abdus Salam and Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin were also present.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting on public transport management in Dhaka city. It was held at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat. The aim was to end the present chaos in public transport and ensure road safety. Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Zahidul Islam Rony shared the details after the meeting.

The meeting discussed managing Dhaka’s public transport, ensuring road safety and ending the existing disorder. It stressed bringing all buses under one unified control system. It also stressed making buses stop only at fixed stops on fixed routes. Through the Bus Route Rationalisation Committee, the government has revived its move to bring the capital’s buses under a single platform, Dhaka Nagar Paribahan.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Mr. Sheikh Robiul Alam, State Minister Mr. Mir Shahe Alam and State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Mr. Habibur Rashid attended the meeting. So did Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. A B M Abdus Sattar and Local Government Division Secretary Mr. Md. Shahidul Hasan. Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Mr. Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque and DMP Commissioner Mr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmed were also there, along with others.

Meanwhile, the family of Abrar Fahad met Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman. Abrar was a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and leaders and activists of the banned organisation Chhatra League tortured him to death. The family met the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon at his office in the Cabinet Division. His father Mr. Md. Barkat Ullah, mother Ms. Rokeya Khatun, younger brother Mr. Abrar Fayaz, one maternal uncle and one paternal uncle came. The Prime Minister talked with them and asked about their wellbeing.

Abrar’s father asked the Prime Minister to help finish the trial quickly and carry out the verdict. The Prime Minister replied that the case is now in the higher court, and the court will work independently. He assured the family that the government will give all needed help. The father also asked for a bridge over the Gorai river in Kushtia. He said about 40 to 50 thousand people there cross the river on a bamboo footbridge. The Prime Minister promised to build the bridge and name it after Abrar Fahad.

The father also asked for help to pave Abrar’s grave and finish the mosque beside it. The Prime Minister ordered officials to complete the mosque work at once. The father then raised the issue of fugitive accused in the case. He said one accused escaped from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail, and the family learned of it about six months later. He demanded that the escaped accused, who are still not arrested, be brought under the law quickly.

Abrar’s mother Ms. Rokeya Khatun asked the Prime Minister to make sure no other mother loses her child like this. She said, “Every boy and girl on every campus is the child of some mother like me. I want no campus to bring back the old environment. No mother should lose her child as I did.”

Abrar’s younger brother Mr. Abrar Fayaz invited the Prime Minister to visit the BUET campus. He also asked for a new hall at BUET in Abrar Fahad’s name. The Prime Minister spoke with the Education Secretary on the spot. Mr. Fayaz also asked to include Abrar’s story in textbooks so the new generation can learn about him. He said the government has made a list of those killed in the July movement. He asked for a similar list of people killed in earlier years, like Abrar. The Prime Minister said a related project is in process at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.

Chhatra Dal Central President Mr. Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Mr. Nasir Uddin Nasir were also present at the meeting. Seven years ago, Abrar was called to Room 2011 of Sherebangla Hall and beaten to death. His home is in Rayadanga village, Koya union, Kumarkhali upazila, Kushtia. The day before, he wrote a Facebook post criticising deals signed during then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India. He questioned the use of Mongla port, the Feni river water and gas export.

The next night, some Chhatra League leaders called him to the hall, questioned him about the post and beat him. He fell unconscious, and they left him on the stairs of the hall. The autopsy found serious injuries and internal bleeding from the heavy beating. After the killing, protests started at BUET and many other universities. Students put forward 10 demands, including punishment for the killers.

Abrar’s father Mr. Barkat Ullah filed a case against 19 people at Chawkbazar police station soon after. After the investigation, the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police charged 25 people. In 2021, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 sentenced 20 accused to death and five to life in prison. In 2025, the High Court upheld that verdict. Nine accused whose death sentences stayed then appealed to the Appellate Division, and one accused with a life sentence also filed for leave to appeal. The case is now pending in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Abrar’s family later spoke to journalists.