Aporajeyo Alo programme expands to support female hockey players

BRAC Bank has pledged an additional Tk2 crore for 2026 to expand its flagship women's hockey development programme, a move set to accelerate the growth of women's hockey talent nationwide.

The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, aims to support more than 500 aspiring female players across Bangladesh.

Building on the success of previous interventions and recognising the rising potential of women's hockey in Bangladesh, BRAC Bank said the expanded investment will bolster grassroots talent identification, elite performance, and competitive exposure.

This commitment follows BRAC Bank's earlier Tk1 crore contribution to the 2025 edition of the BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Tournament.

Under the expanded programme, more than 500 female players will receive professional coaching, targeted development opportunities, scholarships, and enhanced competitive exposure.

The initiative seeks to build a robust women's hockey ecosystem by identifying grassroots talent, developing elite performance, and creating a sustainable pipeline of athletes for national and international representation.

This reflects BRAC Bank's ongoing commitment to empowering young women and advancing social progress through sport.

Senior officials from both organisations formalised the agreement at BRAC Bank's head office in Dhaka, reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting women's participation in competitive sport.

The programme will engage talent from districts nationwide through district-level training, specialised goalkeeper development, merit-based scholarships, and a national competition platform.

It is designed to create a structured pathway enabling athletes to progress from grassroots entry to high-performance competition.

More than 500 female players are expected to benefit from professional coaching under the initiative.

The development framework spans district-level non-residential training for emerging talent, advanced coaching for high-performance athletes, residential goalkeeper development, and targeted scholarships for BKSP-enrolled athletes, ensuring access, progression, and sustained development at every stage.

The programme will culminate in the BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Nari Hockey Tournament 2026, offering a national platform for emerging athletes to showcase their abilities and advance their careers.

The 2025 tournament underscored the programme's impact, with 11 players selected for the national team and four advancing to the Asian Games qualifier squad.

Bangladesh subsequently secured its first-ever qualification for the women's hockey Asian Games after finishing runners-up in the qualifiers.

BRAC Bank Managing Director and CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan said, "Sir Abed believed that Bangladesh does not lack talent, but opportunities. Through this programme, BRAC Bank is building structured pathways that allow young women to pursue their sporting ambitions with dignity and confidence. This is about inclusion, empowerment, and nation-building through purposeful investment in people."

Lt Col Riazul Hasan (Retd), General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, said, "Women's hockey in Bangladesh holds immense promise. BRAC Bank's continued support strengthens grassroots development and enhances competitive readiness, both of which are critical to building a stronger national framework for the sport."

The initiative aligns with BRAC Bank's broader Corporate Social Responsibility agenda, which focuses on inclusion, empowerment, and the creation of sustainable opportunities.

Through continued investment in women's sport, the bank aims to expand opportunities for young athletes, advance gender equity, and strengthen Bangladesh's presence on the international sporting stage.