Bangladesh’s government launched a fresh push to rescue grassroots sport in the capital, unveiling plans for two large playing fields across Dhaka’s city corporations and dedicated futsal courts in every ward. Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque outlined the project during the first meeting of the central committee tasked with mapping and developing playgrounds nationwide on Saturday.
The minister targeted Dhaka’s brutal shortage of open space. Tower blocks swallowed most empty plots, leaving young players to chase footballs through narrow lanes instead of proper pitches.
Aminul Haque promised creative solutions. Where space runs thin, officials will combine land between two wards to carve out a shared ground. If that fails, planners will merge three wards to build a larger field.
The strategy stretches beyond traditional grass pitches. The ministry plans to install futsal courts in every ward, tapping into a version of football that thrives in tight urban spaces and demands less land.
Aminul Haque pressed city authorities and public works officials to move quickly. He urged them to identify unused land under city corporations, government departments and schools, then open those spaces for children and local players.
The blueprint stretches further into community use. The minister explained that each ground should serve more than weekend footballers. Walking tracks around the fields will allow older residents to use the space for morning and evening exercise.
The committee also widened the project beyond Dhaka. Officials agreed to designate at least one playing field in every union and another at each upazila headquarters, aiming to give rural communities proper sporting venues.
Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam added a practical warning during the meeting. He insisted that each field must sit near the centre of the population rather than tucked away at the edge of a union.
He also fired a shot across the bows of local politics. Shahe Alam instructed officials to block political influence or personal lobbying from shaping the choice of land.
