Nur Muhammad Sagor, Srimangal (Moulvibazar)

The government will modernize and renovate existing district-level stadiums into complete sports complexes to expand opportunities for various sports across the country, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque said on Tuesday.

He made this  remarks while talking to reporters following the inauguration of the Srimangal Cricket Academy in Moulvibazar.

 He stated that prioritizing the renovation and development of existing fields and stadiums remains a key focus before taking up new construction projects.

He noted that the government is working to establish an integrated sports infrastructure extending from the grassroots to the national level. As part of this plan, necessary facilities—including playing fields and dressing rooms—will be developed alongside the Srimangal Cricket Academy.

He added that district stadiums will be equipped to host diverse sports disciplines regularly—including football, cricket, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, chess, archery, shooting, and hockey. A comprehensive project to modernize district stadiums across Bangladesh is currently underway, with the formulation of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) in progress.

Under the modernization scheme, stadiums will be rendered self-sufficient through the installation of galleries, dressing rooms, and press boxes. The government also plans to construct playgrounds down to the Union Parishad level and smaller fields at city ward levels.

The State Minister emphasized that expanding sports facilities is essential to keeping the youth away from drug abuse and antisocial activities. He disclosed that initiatives have been taken to incorporate sports into textbooks starting from the fourth grade in the upcoming academic year.

Addressing the illegal occupation of the railway field in Srimangal, he directed the district and upazila administrations to reclaim all illegally occupied playgrounds and make them suitable for sports activities.

Regarding performance in international sports, he stated that the government aims to secure medals in high-potential disciplines rather than merely participate. 

Additional District Magistrate Md. Mamunur Rashid, Srimangal UNO  Md. Ziaur Rahman, Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Wahiduzzaman Raju, Bangladesh Cricket Board Director Sarfaraz Ahmed Sarfu, local sports organizers, former General Secretary of Srimangal Upazila BNP Md. Taj Uddin Taju, political leaders, and journalists were present. 

Later, he inspected the proposed site for a mini-stadium in Srimangal upazila and planted tree saplings on the premises.