The government has taken a major initiative to boost sporting practice from the school level. A dedicated textbook titled “Sports” is being added to the new 2027 curriculum from class four onward. Writing the book is nearly complete, and it is currently being reviewed for necessary corrections and revisions, said youth and sports deputy minister Aminul Haque. He made the comments as chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) sports festival on Monday (September 14).
The deputy minister said work on the “Sports” textbook is at nearly its final stage. The book is now being reviewed so any errors can be corrected. It will be included in the class four curriculum from 2027. He said the new textbook would also align with the government’s “Notun Kuri Sports” programme, with plans to give priority in the book to the 10 sports emphasised under that programme.
Building a sporting habit from childhood
Aminul Haque said sport is not just about competition or winning medals — it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Sport plays a role in children’s physical and mental development, he said, so students must be encouraged to take an interest in it from childhood.
He said producing athletes cannot be done by working only at the national level. Talent must be identified from the grassroots and given regular training and opportunities. The government is implementing various programmes toward this goal.
Millions register for ‘Notun Kuri Sports’
On the “Notun Kuri Sports” programme launched to identify talent from the grassroots, the deputy minister said around 168,000 people registered online in the first phase. Registration expanded significantly in the second phase, reaching around 1.5 million, and could reach 2 million if the deadline is extended through September.
He said the goal is to bring the country’s 4,599 unions under this programme, identifying promising players from remote areas.
Special training for 306 players
306 players who rose to the national level through the first “Notun Kuri Sports” round will receive two months of training starting September 19. Training will be arranged for them at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP).
Government working to establish sports as a profession: Aminul Haque
The deputy minister said that among players who show exceptional talent during training, qualified candidates will be enrolled at BKSP free of charge. The government will cover both their sports and education expenses.
Sports officers for 503 upazilas
The deputy minister said an initiative has also been taken to create sports officer posts in 503 upazilas nationwide, to strengthen sporting activities at the grassroots level. Approval has already been given to appoint sports officers in 201 upazilas, with the programme to be gradually extended to all upazilas.
He said upazila-level sports officers would play an important role in identifying players from every upazila, training them, and preparing them for national and international levels.
Results won’t come overnight
Noting that these government sports initiatives will not yield benefits overnight, Aminul Haque said such programmes could take two to five years to bear fruit. If children and young people are engaged with sport in a planned way from now, he said, the benefits will show in the future.
He said the government’s goal is not just participation in international competitions, but bringing Bangladesh to a position where it can win medals. Toward that end, emphasis is being placed on player training and preparation under long-term planning.
Noting that player activities have begun ahead of the Asian Games, the deputy minister said there are plans to select 13 to 14 sports after the Asian Games for year-round training. Through continuous training and a long-term athlete development programme, the government aims to further strengthen Bangladesh’s standing on the international stage.