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The government is working to establish sports as a viable profession in Bangladesh and create greater opportunities for athletes to pursue sporting careers, Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Professor Dr Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain said on Thursday.
“For the first time in the country’s history, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has brought athletes under a salary structure and inaugurated a sports allowance programme,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the two-day ‘Best of Best National Kickboxing Championship 2026’, organised by the National Kickboxing Association at the Mohammad Ali Boxing Stadium in the capital.
Dr Zahid said sports play a unique and powerful role in the physical and mental development of children, while helping build self-confidence, discipline and leadership skills.
He said the government has taken an initiative to construct a playground in every union across the country to expand sporting opportunities at the grassroots level.
“Sports should not remain confined to major cities. We want children and young people in every part of the country to have access to proper sporting facilities,” he said.
The minister also highlighted initiatives to identify talented athletes from remote and underdeveloped areas and bring them into mainstream competitive sports.
He said programmes such as ‘Natun Kuri Sports’ would help discover promising young athletes and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills at the national level.
“These talented young athletes will, in the future, bring glory and reputation to Bangladesh on the world stage,” he said.
The organisers of the kickboxing championship requested the inclusion of kickboxing in the ‘Natun Kuri Sports’ programme.
Responding to the request, Dr Zahid assured them of the government’s necessary support and assistance in exploring the inclusion of the sport in the programme.
He stressed that developing sports infrastructure and providing financial and institutional support to athletes were essential to building a strong sporting culture in Bangladesh.
The two-day national kickboxing championship brings together athletes from different parts of the country and provides them with an opportunity to compete at the national level.
President of the National Kickboxing Association Ishtiaq Abedin chaired the opening ceremony.
General Secretary Mostafizur Rahman Mostafiz, renowned athletes, coaches and referees from across the country, officials from relevant ministries and sports organisations, and sports enthusiasts were present at the programme.