Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday a modern high-standard sports village will be built in the vicinity of the Padma River near Padma Bridge with necessary facilities for all kinds of sports, competitions and trainings.
She also said her government wants to build an Olympic Complex there.
“With this, we want to give more importance to sports and games so that we could keep our youths away from terrorism, militancy and drug addiction. For this, sports, games and cultural activities are very much essential, and we’re taking such steps.”
The prime minister said this while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 4th Roll Ball World Cup held at Sheikh Russell Roller Skating Complex in the capital’s Paltan area.
Sheikh Hasina also urged those actively involved in sports sector to take initiatives to revive and popularise again the country’s local sports in which people used to take part greatly.
Calling for a new start of local and home-grown sports across the country, Hasina urged industrialists, business enterprises and financial institutions to come forward with their financial support to promote the local sports.
Sheikh Hasina said steps would be taken for world-class training of other people relating to sports, including trainers, referees, doctors and nutritionists.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder, Principal Coordinator on SDGs at the Prime Minister’s Office and Convenor of the 4th Roll Ball World Cup Md Abul Kalam Azad also spoke at the function.
The prime minister said Bangladesh Roller Skating Federation for the first time in the country organised this 4th Roll Ball World Cup from February 17 to February 23 with the participation of the highest number of 39 countries and some 625 players.
Although Roll Ball Skating has not got much introduction and popularity in the country, Hasina said the authorities concerned would have to take initiatives so that this game could spread across the country.
Noting that there is no alternative to involving the youths in sports and cultural activities to keep them away from terrorism, militancy and drug, she said the government has taken the ‘healthy mind in healthy body’ approach to groom patriotic and ideal citizens.
The prime minister distributed trophies among the captains of the champion and runner-up teams of the tournament.
India clinched champion trophy both in men and women categories, while Iran became runner-up in both groups.
She also distributed medals among the players of the champion and runner-up teams.
Hridoy Khan of Bangladesh team received the medal and cheque from the prime minister as the best scorer of the tournament.
Pointing out successful arrangements of many international events in Bangladesh over the last few years, she said the world community has praised excellent arrangements of those events.
Sheikh Hasina said all stadiums at district level are being renovated while project was taken for construction of stadium at upazila level. Besides, projects were taken for the construction of specialised and international standard stadium and sports complex in big cities.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is now a known face in the international sports arena, she said, “We’re proud of the success of the U-18 football team and female cricket team in Malaysia. Bangladesh is a strong team in the world cricket.”
To continue the success in sports, she said, the government has given importance to infrastructural development.
The government has taken it seriously to protect the sports fields in every village and town, she added.
Hasina said the government has taken initiatives for recruiting players from grassroots level and then giving them necessary trainings.
All sports federations and district and sub-district-level sports councils will be strengthened by providing sufficient budgets, she said.
The prime minister said her government is increasing budget allocation for sports every year, though the allocation is not adequate.
Later, she witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by the country’s famed artistes.
The prime minister formally inaugurated the Sheikh Russell Roller Skating Complex.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina receives a crest on the concluding day of the 4th Roll Ball World Cup held at Sheikh Russell Roller Skating Complex in Dhaka yesterday.
