Aminul Haque, the State Minister for Youth and Sports, has set out a bold plan to overhaul Bangladesh’s sports sector. Since assuming his role, he has consistently shared his vision with the media, and on Sunday he presented a clear outline of his plans for the future at National Sports Council (NSC).
At a discussion meeting held at the National Sports Council (NSC) today, Aminul Haque, along with various ministry officials and the NSC’s executive director, addressed the media on his vision for sports development. A key part of his plan involves establishing a salary structure for athletes, making sports a viable profession in the country. He said, “Our Honourable Prime Minister has decided that we want to establish sports as a profession. We are in detailed discussions to ensure that every player is included in a salary framework.” He further explained that this initiative would involve collaboration with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Education, to integrate sports into the national curriculum from Class IV.
The minister also stressed the importance of grassroots sports development, particularly in rural areas, and highlighted the need for open playgrounds across the country. He said, “The government wants to prioritise open spaces for sports so children can play freely. We are not focused on building closed infrastructures but want to focus on accessible spaces.”
He also admitted the scarcity of open grounds in Dhaka but proposed the construction of multi-purpose sports venues that would serve not only for youth but also for senior citizens, with walkways for the elderly.
Aminul Haque shared his discussions with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who gave specific guidance on how to transform sports into a professional career. “We are working on criteria and mechanisms to bring athletes under a formal salary structure for their financial security,” said the minister.
In addition to infrastructural development, the government plans to introduce sports at the school level. Aminul announced that five sports, including football and cricket, would become mandatory subjects in schools starting from Class IV. The Ministry is open to suggestions from journalists on which other sports should be included in the curriculum.
Aminul also highlighted the government’s plan to implement an annual sports calendar, with events scheduled throughout the year, taking seasonal variations into account. He stated that district-level sports would be made more accountable, and the ministry would focus on reforms to improve local sporting activities.
On a broader vision for the future, the minister expressed a desire to shift public perception on sports careers, stating, “Every parent wants their child to be a doctor, engineer, or lawyer, but few dream of their child becoming an athlete. I want to change that mindset and help every parent see the possibility of their child becoming a professional athlete.”
Aminul concluded by mentioning plans to create a research cell and a monitoring cell within the Ministry to ensure effective implementation of these reforms.
