Athlete friends, focus on sports instead of engaging in politics: Prime Minister

Photo: Collected

News desk: Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has given special importance to the players to focus on the field game without being a representative of any political party or group. 

This was said by the Prime Minister at the official inauguration of sports card and allowance program at his office in Tejgaon on Sunday. 

He said, 'Friends of players, my sincere request to all of you - you are not and will not be representatives of any political party or group in professional sports life. Rather, you will become a representative of the country through sportsmanship, bring glory and honor to the country.'

The Prime Minister said, 'At present, sports are not just a part of hobby, entertainment or exercise; Rather, we can see that sports are now becoming a profession in the world. Just like accountancy, engineering or legal profession is a profession, sports is also a profession. When the world is moving forward like this, surely Bangladesh cannot be left behind; We will not be behind, God willing.'

The Prime Minister also said, 'As maths, English, geography and history are compulsory in our schools, we want the child to play whatever sport he likes. He has to be efficient in that, he has to develop himself. That is, along with history, geography and science, we will also make sports compulsory.'

Tareek Rahman said, 'The man who has never been defeated has actually done nothing. That means he didn't take any initiative, he didn't try. You have to do something to win.'

The government has brought hundreds of sportspersons under the salary structure as part of the process of establishing sports as a profession. Prime Minister handed over sports cards to 129 players on Sunday. Special awards are given to those who achieve success at the international level.

Cricketers will be out of this list as the cricket board is self-reliant. However, Minister of State for Sports Aminul Haque said that 500 players will be brought under the salary structure gradually from next April.