Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called on athletes not to affiliate themselves with any political party or group during their professional sporting careers, saying they should instead represent the country through sporting excellence.
"In your [sportspersons] professional sporting career, you should not get involved with any political party or group; rather, represent the country through your sporting excellence," he said.
The prime minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his office this morning.
Tarique Rahman also urged sportspersons to take Bangladesh to a higher position in the global sporting arena by winning games at home and abroad.
"I believe that if you have patriotism, a strong will, and team spirit, no one can stand in your way of successful progress," he said.
The premier said that sport is no longer merely a matter of hobby, entertainment or physical exercise, but is now recognised as a profession worldwide.
"Bangladesh will also not lag behind. Before the 2026 national election, we pledged in our party manifesto that if the BNP gets the opportunity to run the state through the people’s mandate, we would establish sport as a profession. The implementation phase of that promise formally began today," he added.
Noting that defeat does not mean losing but is part of victory, Tarique Rahman quoted Albert Einstein as saying: "A person who has never been defeated has never done anything."
He said the government has begun implementing a plan to bring sportspersons under a structured salary framework based on a specific policy so that they can pursue sport professionally without financial uncertainty for themselves and their families.
"For the first time in the country's history, athletes are being brought under a salary structure and provided with sports allowances," the premier said.
Highlighting the government's other initiatives to improve the living standards of the people, he said his administration has already introduced the Family Card, honorarium allowances for imams, khatibs and religious leaders of other faiths, and a nationwide canal excavation programme.
The prime minister also said that the government is set to launch the 'Farmers Card' programme on April 14 in Tangail district.
Stating that the government is implementing its commitments step by step, he said, "As part of that continuity, the 'Sports Card' has been launched today."
Tarique Rahman said physically challenged individuals capable of contributing to sport will also receive sports cards.
Under the theme "Sports for All", he said the government has taken all initiatives to ensure facilities for underprivileged groups and persons with special needs who wish to participate in sport, both at home and abroad.
Highlighting the government's plans, the premier said a wide range of programmes has been undertaken to establish sport as a profession.
Noting that cricket and football are currently the most popular sports in the country, he said that, apart from these, there are many other sports such as archery, boxing, yoga, gymnastics, carrom, weightlifting, wushu, swimming, para swimming, athletics, para athletics, karate, sepak takraw, table tennis, kabaddi, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, bridge, futsal and badminton.
"If these sports are supported by the government and the private sector, they too can bring honour to the country," he said.
Tarique Rahman also mentioned that Bangladesh recently became champions in SAFF women's futsal for the first time.
He said the government has begun implementing short-, medium- and long-term plans to develop sport as a profession.
A plan has been taken to make sport compulsory from grade four in the education curriculum to ensure the involvement of interested students alongside their studies, the premier added.
"We want our children to become interested and skilled in sport alongside their studies," he said, adding that the Education Ministry has already begun revising the curriculum accordingly.
Stating that 'Notun Kuri Sports', a talent-hunt programme, is set to be launched nationwide in a new format, the prime minister said, "In independent Bangladesh, 'Notun Kuri' was initiated in 1976 to identify talented children and adolescents in different fields."
Although this popular programme of Bangladesh Television (BTV) was discontinued for many years, it has now been relaunched on BTV, he said.
'Notun Kuri Sports' is set to be launched nationwide from Sylhet on April 30 to identify sporting talent among children and adolescents in a new way, he added.
Earlier, the premier inaugurated the sports card and allowance programmes at around 10:30am. He launched the allowance programme by pressing a button on a laptop, through which an amount of Tk 100,000 was instantly transferred to each athlete’s account via Sonali Bank’s online system.
On the occasion, Tarique Rahman handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honoured those who achieved success at the international level.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at the function as the guest of honour, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque in the chair.
Sports and Youth Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam delivered the welcome address.
Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Md Ismail Zabiullah, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam, and BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon were also present, among others.
After the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister took part in a photo session with the athletes outside the Shapla Hall.
