Youth and Sports state minister Aminul Haque has vowed to protect Bangladesh’s football clubs from political interference, delivering the commitment during a visit to Abahani Limited’s Dhanmondi headquarters on 25 April.
Aminul held lengthy discussions with club officials on restoring full sporting activity at Abahani, which has been mired in stagnation since 5 August 2024. Describing Abahani and Mohammedan as the twin pillars of Bangladeshi football, he was unequivocal about the need for change.
“In the future, Abahani and other clubs in Bangladesh will operate freely, outside of politics,” he said. “We have already discussed ensuring that the tradition of Mohammedan, Abahani, and Bangladeshi football is never disrupted for political reasons.”
Urging all parties to look ahead rather than dwell on the past, the minister added: “We will not discuss what happened before. We want to move forward so that no mistakes are repeated and Abahani can operate independently.”
On the broader question of player welfare, Aminul drew a direct link between club health and player livelihoods. “If the clubs survive, our players will survive,” he said. “If the clubs are not in good shape, it is the players who will suffer.”
The minister also announced that a nationwide youth programme called Notun Kuri Sports will launch on 2 May across all 64 districts, targeting young boys and girls at grassroots level. He outlined plans to tackle clubs’ financial difficulties through corporate partnerships and better use of their own resources, and called on the media to support the push for depoliticisation.
Aminul was welcomed by Abahani’s current players with flowers on his arrival and presented with an honorary jersey by the club. Senior officials from both Abahani and Mohammedan attended the visit, as did BCB ad hoc committee chairman Tamim Iqbal.
