More emphasis on sports infrastructure development

The government will be putting more emphasis on developing sports infrastructures throughout the country to improve the quality of sports and augment sports opportunities in the upcoming fiscal year, said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

Placing the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 in parliament on Thursday, Kamal said, “The government has been constructing and developing various sports infrastructures including modern stadiums, gymnasiums and swimming pools to improve the quality of sports and augment sports opportunities.”

“There are eight ongoing projects in FY2021-2022 for construction and development of sports infrastructure, one of which is the ‘Construction of Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium at Upazila level’ project,” added the finance minister.

In the proposed budget, the total development expenditure of the youth and sports ministry is Tk 405.69 crore.

A major portion of the allocation in the proposed budget will go to the construction and development of sports facilities in various parts of the country.

Under the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP), two more sports schools will be set up in Rajshahi and Chattogram. For this project, the allocated amount is Tk 40.76 crore.

Tk 68.84 crore have been sanctioned to upgrade the shooting zone of the BKSP.

For the feasibility study of building a new cricket stadium in Manikganj, Tk 13.5 crore have been allocated.

For the further development of the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Tk 15 crore has been allocated in the upcoming Fiscal Year. For the development of Pabna Shahid Amin Uddin Stadium and swimming pool, construction of indoor cricket practice shed and development of Shariatpur Stadium, Tk 6.5 crore have been allocated.

Bhola’s Gaznabi Stadium will get Tk 12 crore for further development and construction of the indoor stadium and swimming pool.

For the further development of Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Kushtia, Tk 6 crore has been allocated.

Besides the infrastructural development, the government is also focusing on training and talent search, said Kamal in his budget proposal.

“Side by side, training for the players by skilled and experienced coaches to produce skilled players, improving the quality of rural sports and provision of long-term training for talented players selected through sports talent search,” he said on Thursday.

“In addition, regular financial grants and sports equipment are being allocated to various sports federations/ associations/organisations for organising sports events and participating in domestic and international sports events,” added the finance minister.

Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council award was introduced in 2021 and Kamal said that it will continue to facilitate the athletes and organisers.

“The Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award has been introduced to promote the sports, which is being awarded to the eminent athletes/organisers,” said the finance minister.