Govt rebuilding sports structure to engage youth in regular physical activity: minister

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque has said the government is rebuilding the country’s sports structure from the grassroots to the national level to keep young people regularly engaged in physical activity alongside their studies.

He said a structured athlete development pathway is being introduced from union to upazila, district, divisional and national levels to ensure children and youth remain involved in sports throughout the year.

The state minister made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a programme marking the 78th founding anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at the Engineers Recreation Centre auditorium in Dhaka on Friday.

The programme featured a seminar on “Healthy Aging” and an award ceremony for the Sports Tournament-2026, says a media release.

Speaking at the event, Aminul Haque said the sports calendar has already progressed through upazila, district and divisional stages, while the national phase is expected to begin after Eid.

“The next full sports season will begin in September and continue until March or April, ensuring that children and young athletes remain engaged in sports for nearly six months every year,” he said.

He said eight sporting disciplines have already been made mandatory under the new framework, while volleyball and table tennis are expected to be added from the next season, raising the total number to 10.

The minister also said exceptionally talented athletes identified through competitions would receive government support, including educational and professional sports training opportunities at divisional-level BKSP institutes and the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan in Dhaka.

Highlighting the health benefits of sports participation, Aminul Haque said earlier generations remained physically active through regular outdoor play using locally made equipment.

“If children regularly go to playgrounds, they are less likely to become ill and will lead healthier lives,” he said.

Referring to the concept of healthy ageing, the state minister stressed the importance of walking, physical exercise and sports participation in maintaining physical and mental wellbeing.

He added that newly developed playgrounds across the country are being planned with walking tracks to create healthier environments for people of all ages.

Aminul Haque praised the initiative taken by the IEB, saying engineers play an indispensable role in the country’s infrastructure development, but maintaining physical and mental wellbeing is equally important for a long and productive professional life.

Engineer Mohammad Reazul Islam (Rezu), speaking as a special guest, said the IEB has remained a unifying platform for the country’s engineers for the past 78 years.

He stressed the need to promote the idea of healthy ageing among both senior and younger engineers to ensure people remain productive throughout their lives.

Prof Dr Engineer Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan said engineers in technology-driven professions often neglect physical exercise due to demanding work schedules, underscoring the importance of regular fitness, health check-ups and mental wellbeing.

Engineer AKM Shoaib Bashari Hablu said personal wellbeing is essential alongside professional excellence, noting that sports and health awareness can improve engineers’ long-term productivity.

The keynote paper at the seminar was presented by SM Monjurul Islam Chowdhury, who highlighted the scientific importance of maintaining physical and mental balance, proper nutrition and regular exercise with advancing age.

In his presidential remarks, Engineer Khan Ataur Rahman Santu said the IEB’s commitment on its 78th founding anniversary is to contribute to building a healthier and more prosperous Bangladesh.

At the end of the programme, trophies and awards were distributed among winners of different events under Sports Tournament-2026.

Senior IEB officials, members of the Engineers Recreation Centre Dhaka and a large number of engineers attended the event.