State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque said on Saturday that Notun Kuri Sports would mark a new phase for Bangladesh’s grassroots sport, as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to launch the nationwide talent-hunt programme at Sylhet District Stadium at 3pm on 2 May 2026, with simultaneous virtual launches in 64 districts. Aminul briefed journalists in Sylhet hours before the ceremony, after heavy overnight rain in the city.
Notun Kuri Sports targets boys and girls aged 12 to 14 across eight events: football, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, chess, athletics, swimming and martial arts. The four team sports follow a knockout format, chess uses the Swiss league system in line with international standards, and athletics, swimming and martial arts run heats or qualifying rounds followed by finals. Each participant can enter a maximum of two events.
The competition starts at upazila level and moves through district and divisional rounds to a national final. The government has split the country into 10 zones for the programme: Dhaka, Faridpur, Chattogram, Cumilla, Rangpur, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Mymensingh. Regional rounds will finish between 13 and 22 May, with administrative committees overseeing each stage.
Aminul confirmed that the prime minister chose Sylhet over Dhaka for the launch. “Don’t keep me in Dhaka. Take me outside. Things always start from Dhaka. I want this to start outside Dhaka,” Tarique Rahman told the minister, according to Aminul.
He also placed Notun Kuri inside the government’s wider sports plan. “Even before the election, the prime minister gave sports the highest priority in the manifesto. Sports was a key part of the plan to rebuild the country. We are working to put the manifesto into practice. The government has already launched the sports card and the sports allowance,” he said.
Aminul added that the programme will look beyond the visible pool of young athletes. “Today, through Notun Kuri Sports, a new chapter is starting in Bangladesh’s sport. The talent at the grassroots is often hidden,” he said.
