Prime Minister launches sports allowance and sports card programmes
The government launched the programme as part of a structured pay system for national athletes.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated the sports allowance and sports card programmes for national athletes at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital’s Tejgaon area.
The premier formally launched the monthly allowance programme around 10:30am by activating it digitally, enabling Tk100,000 to be instantly transferred to each athlete’s account through Sonali Bank’s online system.
The initiative has been introduced as part of a structured pay framework for national athletes, under the theme “Krira Hole Pesha, Paribar Pabe Bharosha (When sports become a profession, families gain security).”
On the occasion, the Prime Minister distributed sports cards among 129 athletes and honoured those who have achieved international success.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives, attended the event as chief guest, while State Minister for Sports and Youth Md Aminul Haque presided over the programme. Sports and Youth Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam delivered the welcome speech.
In his remarks, Aminul Haque said 129 athletes received the allowance on the day, adding that a total of 500 sportspersons would be brought under the scheme within the next seven days.
Athletes from 20 disciplines—including the SAFF Futsal-winning women’s team, kabaddi, and volleyball—have initially been included. The programme is seen as the beginning of a new phase in the country’s sports sector, with plans to bring athletes under a formal salary structure in line with the government’s election manifesto. Cricketers, however, will remain outside the scheme as the cricket board operates independently.
A documentary was screened highlighting the contributions of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Arafat Rahman Koko to the development of the country’s sports sector.
It also outlined the Prime Minister’s future plans to improve athletes’ living standards, expand playground facilities, and nurture talent from the grassroots level. The song “Prothom Bangladesh Amar, Shesh Bangladesh” was played during the screening.
Among others present were 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 Administrator Abdus Salam, and BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon.
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