Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the sports allowance and sports card programmes for national athletes at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Tejgaon.
He formally launched the monthly allowance programme around 10:30am by pressing a button on a laptop, instantly transferring Tk 100,000 to each athlete’s account through the online system of Sonali Bank.
The programme has been introduced under a structured pay system for national athletes with the theme “Krira Hole Pesha, Paribar Pabe Bharosha (When sports become a profession, families gain security).”
On the occasion, the Prime Minister handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honored those who achieved success at the international level.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, attended as the chief guest, while State Minister for Sports and Youth Md Aminul Haque chaired the event. Sports and Youth Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam delivered the welcome speech.
In his remarks, Aminul Haque said 129 athletes received the allowance today, and a total of 500 sportspersons will be brought under the programme within the next seven days.
Athletes from 20 disciplines—including the SAFF Futsal-winning women’s team, kabaddi, and volleyball—have been included in the initiative.
The programme is seen as the beginning of a new era in the country’s sports sector. Under the government’s election manifesto, athletes from various disciplines will gradually be brought under a salary structure, although cricketers will remain outside this system as the cricket board is financially self-reliant.
A documentary was also screened, highlighting the contributions of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Arafat Rahman Koko to the country’s sports sector.
The film also upholds Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s plans to improve athletes’ living standards, create new playgrounds, and develop talent from the grassroots level. The song “Prothom Bangladesh Amar, Shesh Bangladesh” was played in the background.
Among others present were Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Md Ismail Zabiullah, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, and BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon.