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Tarique Rahman also urged sportspersons to take Bangladesh to a higher position in the global sporting arena by winning games at home and abroad.
The premier said sports is no longer merely a matter of hobby, entertainment or physical exercise, but is now recognised as a profession worldwide.
“Bangladesh will also not lag behind. Before the 2026 national election, we pledged in our party manifesto that if the BNP had the opportunity to run the state through the people’s mandate, we would establish sport as a profession. The implementation phase of that promise formally began today [yesterday],” he added.
He said the government has begun implementing a plan to bring sports persons under a structured salary framework based on a specific policy so that they can pursue sport professionally without financial uncertainty for themselves and their families.
“For the first time in the country’s history, athletes are being brought under a salary structure and provided with sports allowances,” the premier said.
Tarique Rahman said physically challenged individuals capable of contributing to sports will also receive sports cards.
A plan has been taken to make sports compulsory from grade four in the education curriculum to ensure the involvement of interested students alongside their studies, said the premier.
Stating that “Notun Kuri Sports”, a talent-hunt programme, is set to be launched nationwide in a new format, said Tarique.
On the occasion, the prime minister handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honoured those who achieved success at the international level. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at the function as the guest of honour, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque in the chair.
Decision
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That motion is scheduled for discussion today.
The deputy speaker noted that the opposition leader’s motion had already been accepted and, under parliamentary rules, the same subject cannot be discussed twice, making Iqbal’s motion inadmissible.
Law Minister Asaduzzaman argued the two motions were different and could be discussed together, as one concerns the Implementation Order and the other the Charter itself.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also said the motions differ and suggested that, if accepted, Iqbal’s motion be discussed separately.