PM Orders Sports Grounds to Be Built in Every Union

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to establish playgrounds across every union in the country to ensure a healthy, active, and sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents, and youth. He also instructed officials to set up at least 1,000 playgrounds nationwide within the next two months.

The Prime Minister issued these directives on Wednesday afternoon (October 7) during a meeting at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat regarding union-level playground development and the expansion of grassroots sports activities.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister ordered that at least one playground be designated for every two to three wards under both Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations. In line with this initiative, discussions focused on preparing 40 playgrounds in Dhaka North and 90 in Dhaka South by December to host regular sporting activities.

Emphasizing the fulfillment of election manifesto pledges, the Prime Minister called for at least one accessible playground per union. He stressed the importance of expanding athletic opportunities for the physical and mental growth of the next generation, insisting that all grounds remain open to the public.

Officials reported that plans are underway to develop playgrounds gradually across all 4,599 unions in the country. Thus far, 403 parcels of government khas land have been identified across 27 districts. Each proposed field will span between three and eight bighas. To ensure proper upkeep and organize ongoing sporting activities, one dedicated sports officer will be appointed in every upazila.

Furthermore, an initiative is planned to engage roughly 1.4 million adolescents across 10 sports disciplines at the union level, including football, cricket, volleyball, and badminton. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate this nationwide grassroots sports campaign across 503 upazilas from Khulna on November 5.

The meeting also highlighted the need to renovate existing upazila stadiums, recover encroached playgrounds, and promote sports clubs and regular athletics in every school. The Prime Minister instructed relevant ministries and agencies to work collaboratively to preserve play areas, maintain year-round athletic and cultural programming, and foster a healthier generation over the next five years.

The meeting was attended by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan, Relief and Disaster Management 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 Shafiqur Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, and Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr. Mahdi Amin. Following the meeting, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque briefed journalists on the decisions taken.