NSC suggests new site for BFF academy in Cox’s Bazar
The new proposal comes in response to concerns raised about the environmental impact of the original site, which is located in a protected forest area.
Today, the National Sports Council (NSC) has proposed a new site for the Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) planned Centre of Excellence in Cox's Bazar, shifting focus from the previously allocated 20-acre plot in Ramu upazila.
In a statement signed by NSC Secretary Md Aminul Islam, it was revealed that the designated land in Jungal Khuniapalong, Ramu upazila, is part of a reserved forest. This has prompted the NSC, along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to reconsider the location for the BFF's technical centre.
Stakeholders have identified an alternative 19.1-acre site in Dholirchara mouza, within Rashidnagar union of the same upazila, as a more suitable option for the development. The NSC has called on the relevant authorities to carefully assess this new site and proceed accordingly to ensure the successful establishment of the BFF Centre of Excellence.
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The initial 20-acre land allocation in Khuniapalong was approved by the then-ruling Awami League government in early June 2022 as part of a FIFA-funded project worth USD 3.6 million.
The project envisioned a residential training academy equipped with two standard-sized football pitches, a four-storey dormitory, medical facilities, and various other amenities to support the development of football in Bangladesh.
However, the decision to use reserved forestland for the academy raised significant concerns among environmentalists.
They warned that such development would exacerbate the ongoing depletion of the region's forests, which serve as a crucial habitat for critically endangered Asian elephants and other wildlife. These environmental implications prompted FIFA to request an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report from the BFF.
In response, the BFF commissioned the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience at Dhaka University to carry out the ESIA. The report was completed and submitted to FIFA in July this year, and the BFF is currently awaiting feedback from FIFA on the findings.
As the situation unfolds, the NSC's recommendation of an alternative site represents a crucial step in addressing the environmental concerns while ensuring that the BFF Centre of Excellence project moves forward in a responsible manner.
