The Bangladeshi government has brought footballers and hockey players into its sports allowance programme for the first time, handing cards and a monthly stipend of one lakh taka each to 171 athletes in the initiative’s second phase.
The ceremony was held at the auditorium of the National Sports Council (NSC) in Paltan, where State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque formally distributed the allowance cards. Among the newly included beneficiaries were 36 members of the national men’s and women’s football teams.
A programme taking shape
The allowance scheme was launched on 30th March by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who inaugurated the first phase at the Prime Minister’s Office, where 129 athletes received recognition. With Sunday’s second phase, the total number of athletes brought under the programme has reached 300, with a longer-term target of 500.
The government has allocated three crore taka for the current fiscal year to fund the initiative. From next year, that figure is set to rise to five crore taka, allowing a further 200 athletes to be included. The allowance list will be reviewed and updated every four months based on performance.
Athletes from football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis, chess, archery and several other disciplines have been included, though cricketers remain outside the scheme. Players from some sports, including boxing, will have to wait approximately three months before being considered.
Footballers and hockey players respond
The inclusion of footballers and hockey players, absent from the first phase, was widely welcomed. National women’s football team captain Afeida Khandakar was among the first to speak at the ceremony, thanking the Prime Minister and the State Minister for the initiative.
“It will greatly benefit footballers as well as all players,” she said, while also calling for the number of women footballers included to be expanded in future phases. She added a request for improved training facilities, saying the women’s game deserves access to a proper football ground.
In a warm gesture, Afeida also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman, who is said to share a love of football, to visit the BFF Bhaban.
National forward Shekh Morsalin reflected on what the allowance means beyond the financial support itself. “Playing for the country is the greatest honour,” he said. “Receiving such support from the government is both recognition and a necessity for footballers. This initiative will inspire us to move forward, fight harder, dream bigger, and give our best for the country.”
For hockey, a sport hampered by an irregular domestic league and limited income opportunities for players, the allowance carries particular significance. Hockey star Ashraful Islam said the support would allow players to focus more fully on their game. “With this allowance, we can now concentrate more on the sport, and others will be encouraged to push harder to earn a place in the national team,” he said.
Wider impact across sports
The scheme reaches beyond football and hockey. National table tennis champion Sonam Sultana Soma, a multiple title winner, welcomed the support even as her career enters its later stages. “Financial security for athletes was very necessary,” she said. “Finally, it has happened. Now athletes can truly become professional and focus entirely on their sport.”
Badminton player Sifat Ullah pointed to the broader cultural shift the allowance could bring. “People used to ask what we gain from badminton or what we will do with it,” he said. “Now, after receiving this allowance, more people will become interested, and we will have an answer to those questions.”
Notable inclusions and exclusions
Several notable decisions shaped the final list. Veteran chess player Rani Hamid, 82, has been included as a mark of respect for her extraordinary contribution to Bangladeshi sport, despite not featuring in the latest national women’s squad. Weightlifter Mabia Akter Simanta, however, could not be included after testing positive in a doping test and receiving a two-year ban.
Expatriate footballers Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Fahmedul Islam, Zayyan Ahmed and Tariq Kazi were left out of the allowance list, with NSC sources indicating that many do not hold bank accounts in Bangladesh. Both the men’s and women’s football squads have had 18 players included rather than the full 23-man squad typically considered.
State Minister Aminul Haque outlined plans to extend the programme further, promising that coaches, support staff and former athletes would also be brought into a structured support system in due course. “We will ensure proper medical treatment for athletes,” he said. “Alongside current players, all those involved in sports will be brought under a structured system.”
