Qatar Foundation Pledges Support for Bangladesh Women's Sports, Bringing Joy to Four Female Athletes

Four Bangladeshi female athletes, currently accompanying Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on his official visit to Qatar, have expressed their happiness following a significant pledge by the Qatar Foundation to support the development of women’s sports in Bangladesh. On Tuesday, the Qatar Foundation announced its commitment to enhancing sports facilities and opportunities for Bangladeshi women athletes, aiming to empower their sporting careers. This pledge was made during a meeting between Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, CEO of the Qatar Foundation, and Prof. Yunus on the sidelines of the Earthna Summit in Doha, as confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s press wing. National footballers Afida Khandaker and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, along with cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana, were present at the meeting, where they candidly shared their sporting journeys and the obstacles faced due to inadequate infrastructure and support in Bangladesh. Deeply moved by their accounts, Sheikha Hind, herself a former top Qatari athlete and sister to the Emir, expressed admiration for their resilience and announced Qatar Foundation’s intent to support the creation of a dedicated foundation in Bangladesh to oversee the development of essential sports facilities such as dormitories, gyms, and training centres.

The athletes welcomed this initiative with great optimism and gratitude, acknowledging the positive role it could play in advancing women's sports in their country. Afida Khandaker stated that the Chief Adviser had guided them well before the tour and their objective was to represent Bangladesh’s sports potential in Qatar, a goal they believe they fulfilled. She shared how Sheikha Hind attentively listened to their concerns regarding accommodation and facilities and assured them of her support. Shaheda Akhter Ripa added that this was the first time women athletes felt truly considered by leadership and appreciated Sheikha Hind’s emotional engagement during their discussion. Cricketer Sumaiya Akhter highlighted the need for increased cricket engagement in Qatar and invited Sheikha Hind to visit Bangladesh to experience a live cricket match. Sharmin Sultana emphasized the need for medical and injury rehabilitation support and mentioned Qatar Foundation’s willingness to provide training opportunities for players to become professional trainers and physiotherapists. Additionally, Prof. Yunus also met with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and mother of the Emir, to explore broader areas of bilateral cooperation. Sheikha Moza expressed a strong interest in visiting Bangladesh in the near future. This visit marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time Bangladeshi female athletes have officially accompanied the Chief Adviser abroad at the invitation of the Qatar Foundation.