Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged athletes to remain free from political affiliation as the government advances a sports policy reform aimed at professionalising the sector and introducing structured financial support.
Speaking at the inauguration of the national sports allowance and sports card programmes at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, Tarique Rahman said athletes should focus on performance and national representation rather than political engagement during their professional careers.
“In your professional sports career, you should not get involved with any political party or group; rather, represent the country through your sporting excellence,” he said.
The remarks came as part of a broader policy initiative to formalise sports as a profession in Bangladesh, with the government introducing, for the first time, a state-backed salary structure for athletes.
Under the programme, financial allowances have been introduced to reduce economic uncertainty faced by athletes and enable long-term career development. The prime minister said the policy aligns with global trends where sports are recognised as a professional sector contributing to national development.
The initiative also includes the distribution of sports cards to athletes and the expansion of structured support across multiple disciplines, including both able-bodied and physically challenged participants.
Tarique Rahman said the government is implementing short, medium and long-term strategies to strengthen the sports ecosystem, including infrastructure development, grassroots talent identification and policy integration with the education system.
As part of these reforms, sports participation is set to become mandatory from grade four under a revised national curriculum aimed at building early engagement and talent development.
The government is also launching a nationwide talent identification programme, “Notun Kuri Sports”, starting from Sylhet, to identify and nurture young athletes across the country.
Officials said the policy framework reflects a wider governance approach focused on human capital development, youth engagement and institutional reform, similar to other national initiatives, including family support schemes and sector-based financial assistance programmes.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s recent achievements, the prime minister noted the country’s success in regional competitions, including the SAFF women’s futsal championship, and called for greater investment in a wider range of sports beyond cricket and football.
He added that coordinated support from both public and private sectors will be essential to develop disciplines such as archery, athletics, swimming, martial arts and indoor sports.
The policy push is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in international sports while contributing to broader socio-economic development through youth empowerment and structured career pathways.
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