State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque today said the government is prioritizing player development and comprehensive welfare packages to take the country’s sports sector forward.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a reception accorded to the Bangladesh U-15 football team, which finished runners-up in the E-tier of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival held recently in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Bangladesh, however, finished 130th overall among the 189 participating countries.

Commending the young players for their passion and commitment, the State Minister recalled his recent visit to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters, where he said he had witnessed the players’ determination and patriotic spirit.

“Match results – whether wins, losses or draws – are secondary to us at this stage. Our primary objective is to nurture these raw talents into world-class athletes,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s strategic vision, Aminul said the Prime Minister had directed the ministry to put greater emphasis on player development and access to sports facilities rather than merely constructing physical infrastructure.

In line with the directive, the government has launched an initiative to provide regular sports allowances to national athletes to ensure their financial security and professional development. The programme will be expanded gradually, he added.

The State Minister also highlighted grassroots sports initiatives, particularly the success of the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ programme.

A total of 40 outstanding athletes from its inaugural edition, comprising 12 boys and 28 girls, will be enrolled at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) from January.

The government will bear the costs of their academic education and specialised sports training up to the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) level.

Stressing the role of sports in building a healthy nation and keeping young people away from drug abuse and excessive screen addiction, Aminul outlined an ambitious plan to develop sports infrastructure at the grassroots level.

He said under the Prime Minister’s directives, the ministry aims to establish a functional playground in each of the country’s 4,599 unions.

Data on 553 union-level playgrounds across 37 districts have already been compiled, while the ministry plans to complete the assessment of 1,000 venues by December to facilitate open sporting activities.

At the programme, the State Minister also announced a cash award of Taka one lakh for each member of the U-15 team on behalf of the ministry and the Prime Minister. The players and officials of the U-15 team received cheque of Taka one lakh at the ceremony.

“The financial reward itself is not the main issue; rather, it’s a message that the government, the nation and its people stand firmly behind our athletes,” he said.

He also encouraged young sports enthusiasts across the country to take to the fields and prepare themselves to represent Bangladesh on the international stage.