Play store
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the authorities to establish at least one playground in every union across the country to create a healthy, attractive and sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents and young people.
He also directed the authorities to establish at least 1,000 playgrounds nationwide within the next two months.
The Prime Minister gave the directives at a meeting on establishing union-based playgrounds and expanding sports activities at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday afternoon, said his Deputy Press Secretary Suzauddowla Sujon Mahmud.
Tarique also instructed the Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to ensure at least one playground for every two to three wards.
As part of the initiative, discussions were held on making 40 playgrounds under DNCC and 90 under DSCC suitable for sports and launching regular sporting activities there by December.
The Prime Minister stressed implementing the commitment made in the election manifesto and directed the authorities to establish at least one playground in every union.
He also emphasised expanding sporting opportunities for the physical and mental development of the next generation and keeping the playgrounds open to all.
The meeting was informed that a phased initiative has been taken to establish playgrounds in all 4,599 unions across the country.
So far, 403 pieces of khas land have been identified in 27 districts for developing playgrounds. Each playground is planned to cover between three and eight bighas.
The government has also decided to appoint a sports officer in each upazila to ensure proper maintenance of the playgrounds and organise regular sporting activities.
A plan has been taken to involve around 14 lakh adolescents in 10 sporting events, including football, cricket, volleyball and badminton, at the union level.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the sports programme simultaneously in all 503 upazilas from Khulna on November 5.
The meeting also stressed making existing upazila stadiums operational and suitable for sports, recovering occupied playgrounds and introducing regular sports and sports club activities in every educational institution.
Tarique instructed the ministries and agencies concerned to work in a coordinated manner to preserve playgrounds across the country, continue sports and cultural activities throughout the year and build a healthy, attractive and sports-friendly generation over the next five years, Sujon Mahmud said.
Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, DNCC Administrator Shafique Islam Khan, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam and Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin attended the meeting.
