New Youth and Sports Minister Nazmul Hassan Papon sits down with the federations within ten days of officially taking charge. Nine federations and one organization (women sports organization) were invited to the National Sports Council on 23 January 2024 Tuesday, Dhaka. The remaining eight federations except table tennis and volleyball have highlighted their crisis, possibilities and current situation to the Minister of Youth and Sports.
About an hour and a half minister listened carefully to various issues of the coming federations. At the end of the discussion, the Youth and Sports Minister expressed optimism and said, ‘The demand of the federations can be fulfilled. ‘Apart from cricket, almost all the games in Bangladesh are under infrastructure or financial problems. Today seven federations and one organization presented them. Even after this, the new minister said a word of hope, ‘he said very less than the financial help he thought was needed. That can be filled. Two Federations (Shooting and Archery) talk about complex. Those are also under discussion. BCB doing Sheikh Hasina stadium. There will be a few federations.
No basketball court for years. The Federation doesn’t have its own office either. Papon specifically said, ‘Basketball had a problem. That’s on the way to the solution. Their court will be at the Abahani complex. It will be them. The club will use in coordination with the Federation.
Cricket Board does not seek financial help from National Sports Council. All other federations are in front of the donation of the National Sports Council. National Sports Council budget is through government national budget. Nazmul Hasan Papon who spent more than a decade in the playground is also known, I’m actually saying less about the financial compared to cricket. So says nothing less. These may not be implemented in the current budget. Definitely going to try to organize these in the next budget.
The budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports is like 1300 crores. Government rules cannot increase a ministry budget on a certain percentage. Recalling this issue, the new minister said, ‘All things through government budget will be fulfilled by external patronage. Their needs are worth fulfilling.
The new minister will not be upset by providing assistance. Please watch it properly too. So after the first meeting with the Federations insisted, Must take accounts on the roof. Those who will be cooperated will be kept under monitoring.
Tuesday athletics, swimming, carom, basketball, weightlifting, shooting, archery and women’s sports organizations exchanged views with the Minister of Youth and Sports. Swimming Federation General Secretary MB Saif expressed optimism after the first meeting with the new minister, We have specifically highlighted the problems of swimming. The minister has taken it very seriously. He will sit with us again later. Hopefully change will come in swimming.
Mahiuddin Ahmed, Vice-President of weightlifting Federation, is a senior organizer of sports ground. He thinks, the economy of Bangladesh is now a bigger scale. Money is not a problem in sports field, proper management and planning is required. We are hopeful in the words of the new minister. ‘There was no final decision in exchange like today,’ Now I’m just knowing about all the federations. Not taking any decision. Papon said, I will sit separately with many people in front of you.
Tomorrow, the new sports minister will have an exchange of opinions with one of the top federation football and hockey in the country. General Secretary/President of the Federations, technical personality and budget officer attended today’s meeting.
