Athletes should represent the nation, not political parties: PM Tarique Rahman

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on athletes not to be affiliated with any political party during their active sporting careers.

"Professional athletes do not represent any party or group, but rather the country through their sporting excellence," he said while launching a monthly sports allowance programme for national athletes today (30 March), marking a major step towards bringing sport under a structured pay framework.

The premier inaugurated the programme around 10:30am at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka by pressing a button on a laptop, triggering an instant transfer of Tk100,000 to each athlete's account through Sonali Bank's online system.

A total of 129 athletes initially came under the scheme, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque saying the number will rise to 500 within the next seven days. Athletes from 20 disciplines—including the SAFF Futsal-winning women's team, kabaddi and volleyball—have been included, while cricketers remain outside the scheme as the cricket board is financially self-reliant.

The initiative, introduced under the theme "Krira Hole Pesha, Paribar Pabe Bharosha (When sports become a profession, families gain security)," forms part of the government's electoral commitment to turn sports into a viable profession and source of livelihood.

During the event, the prime minister also handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honoured those who have achieved success at the international level.

Addressing the programme, he assured members of the Bangladesh national football team that arrangements for ground facilities are nearly complete to support women players' training, following a request from former captain Sabina Khatun for a futsal ground.

"So that girls can practise and play, the grounds have already been selected, it's almost done, and you will know soon," he said.

The prime minister said that although cricket and football are the most popular sports in the country, disciplines such as archery, boxing, yoga, gymnastics, carrom, weightlifting, wushu, swimming, para-swimming, athletics, para-athletics, karate, sepak takraw, table tennis, kabaddi, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, bridge, futsal and badminton could also bring honour to the country if given proper patronage. He noted that Bangladesh recently became champions in SAFF women's futsal for the first time.

He added that short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans have already been initiated to establish sports as a profession. To encourage participation from an early age, the government plans to make sports compulsory starting in Class 4, with work underway to incorporate the changes into the national education curriculum.

The prime minister also recalled that the popular Bangladesh Television programme "Notun Kuri", launched in 1976 to nurture children's talents, has been revived. He said a nationwide "Notun Kuri Sports" initiative will be launched from Sylhet on 30 April to identify sporting talent across the country.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the programme as the guest of honour, while State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque presided over the session. Sports and Youth Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam delivered the welcome address.

A documentary highlighting the contributions of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Arafat Rahman Koko to the country's sports sector was screened at the event. It also outlined the government's plans to improve athletes' living standards, expand ground facilities, and nurture grassroots talent.

Ministers and senior officials, including those from the Women and Children Affairs, Liberation War Affairs, and Land ministries, as well as advisers and political leaders, were present at the programme.