Staff Reporter:
BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said that sports continue to flow from one generation to another as a source of emotion and tradition.
“Sports are deeply rooted in people’s hearts, and they have been passed down through generations as both emotion and tradition,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting with the newly elected board of directors of Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited.
The meeting held at the Mohammedan Sporting Club ground in Motijheel of the city.
Mirza Fakhrul said, “In my childhood, I became familiar with Mohammedan Club by listening to matches on the radio. At that time, hearing commentaries of games involving clubs from East Pakistan and Kolkata sparked a deep passion for sports in me. The rivalries of Mohammedan, Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal were also portrayed in literature and novels, which further strengthened the social impact of sports.”
He added that individuals involved in sports often become highly popular. In this context, he noted that many current members of parliament and ministers were associated with sports in some way, which has significantly contributed to their popularity.
Addressing Mohammedan Club’s current President Barkat Ullah Bulu and other officials present, the minister expressed optimism that the historic institution would progress through the collective efforts of its members, former players and supporters.
He further said, “The Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken a concrete plan to restructure the coun-try’s sports sector after returning home and has already begun implementing it. As part of this initiative, steps have been taken to expand sports at the grassroots level and develop athletes as professionals.”
Fakhrul called upon the sports minister and relevant stakeholders to ensure that sports remain free from political influence so that talented players receive proper opportunities.
“After a long period of darkness, the country is now moving toward new possibilities. Leaving behind past bitter experiences, we must rebuild the sports sector with new dreams and renewed enthusiasm,” he said.
Speaking as a special guest, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Min-ister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that players must be evaluated based on merit and competence, not on polit-ical identity or division.
Criticizing discrimination in the sports sector, Rizvi said, “Over the past 16–17 years, political consid-erations have often taken precedence in evaluating players, depriving many talented athletes.”
He also said that under the current government, a trend is emerging in sports, culture, and other sectors where merit is being prioritized over partisan considerations. “Efforts are underway, under the leader-ship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to ensure the proper evaluation of talent and competence in all fields.”
President of Mohammedan Sporting Club Barkat Ullah Bulu presided over the event, while State Minis-ter for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam; State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque; State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat; Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and valiant freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam; Member of Parliament from Cumil-la-6 Monirul Haque Chowdhury; and President of Abahani Club Anjan Chowdhury Pintu spoke in the event.
