MoU signed between Bangladesh and WEU to promote traditional sports

Bangladesh, WEU Sign MoU to Promote Traditional Sports and Cultural Cooperation

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh and the World Ethnosports Union (WEU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Istanbul, Türkiye, aimed at promoting traditional sports and strengthening cultural ties.

The signing ceremony took place at the WEU headquarters, where Youth and Sports Adviser of Bangladesh, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, and WEU President Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan formalised the agreement.

Ahead of the signing, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting to discuss the civilisational significance of traditional games and agreed on closer cooperation to promote indigenous sports globally.

During the meeting, Bilal Erdogan highlighted the global potential of Bangladeshi traditional games such as kabaddi, wrestling, bolikhela, and boat racing. He expressed a strong interest in incorporating Bangladeshi sports federations into the WEU and pledged support for their international promotion.

Erdogan also proposed educational initiatives for Bangladeshi youth, including scholarships, exchange programmes, and themed competitions. He further expressed interest in establishing a branch of his organisation’s educational institution in Bangladesh.

Recalling his visit to Cox’s Bazar with his mother, Erdogan expressed a willingness to support traditional sports activities in Rohingya refugee camps to help alleviate hardships through recreational engagement.

Reaffirming Türkiye’s longstanding support for Bangladesh, Erdogan commended the youth and civil society for their role in the country’s July 2024 mass uprising, underscoring the importance of cultural identity and civic mobilisation. He added that under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, Türkiye is committed to reviving its cultural legacy and global presence.

Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Mahmud, described Türkiye as a trusted partner and praised its consistent solidarity with the Bengal Delta, especially in times of crisis. He noted that the 2024 uprising had sparked a new wave of political awareness and a civilisational awakening among Bangladeshi youth—paralleling Türkiye’s own revival.

He also lauded President Erdogan’s principled stance on the Gaza genocide and his advocacy for oppressed Muslim communities, calling for a robust international coalition against such injustices and pledging Bangladesh’s active participation.

Asif Mahmud urged WEU’s support in globalising Bangladesh’s traditional sports—including kabaddi, dariabandha, bolikhela, wrestling, and boat racing.

To conclude, he extended a formal invitation to Bilal Erdogan to attend the upcoming Global Youth Summit 2025 in Bangladesh, expressing confidence that the visit would deepen strategic cooperation in youth engagement, sports, and broader socio-political collaboration.