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Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, has called for keeping the country’s sports arena free from politics, saying sports can play an important role in keeping young people away from drugs and terrorism.
He made the call while addressing a reception organised by the central committee of the Mohammedan Supporters’ Group at Dhaka Club in the capital on Saturday.
Recalling his association with Mohammedan Sporting Club, the Speaker said the club was “another name for pure emotion and love” for him.
He said public interest in sports had declined considerably over time, recalling that when he played for Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1967, football generated a much stronger passion among ordinary people.
The Speaker said playing for Mohammedan was considered a great honour at the time. Before independence, Victoria Sporting Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club were among the country’s most popular football clubs.
He said Mohammedan had a larger following because a significant number of Bengali players played for the club.
According to the Speaker, Bengali players had to compete with Pakistani players for opportunities ranging from club football to the national team.
He said the standard of sports began to decline after politics entered the sporting arena following 1971, resulting in reduced participation in club football at Dhaka’s playing fields.
The Speaker stressed the need to use sports as an effective means of keeping young people away from drugs and terrorism and called for the sports sector to be depoliticised.
He also urged stakeholders to view sports not merely as a form of entertainment but as an important tool for the healthy development of young people.
The event was moderated by F M Rafiq Uddin, general secretary of the Mohammedan Supporters’ Group.
State Minister for Railways and Roads and Highways Habibur Rashid Habib, MP; Mohammedan Supporters’ Group Vice-Chairman Md Hatem; MP and member-secretary of the group’s advisory committee Khairul Kabir Khokon; Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam; and the group’s President S M Alamgir Abul attended the event as special guests.
At the beginning of the programme, a documentary highlighting Mohammedan Sporting Club’s past achievements and the Speaker’s playing career was screened.
The Speaker and other guests were later presented with crests, ceremonial stoles and floral greetings.
National-level athletes, MPs, club members and media professionals also attended the reception.