The proverb "Kazir goru ketabe ache, gowale nei." (Kazi’s cow is in the book, but not in the cowshed) holds entirely true in the realm of rural sports in the country. It means that what you may find written in books may not actually exist in reality.
Election manipulation is considered one of the primary prerequisites for securing a position in the country's sports federations. After winning elections, the responsibility falls on the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) to deal with accountability issues. In most cases, federations seek shortcuts to prove their eligibility, undermining the long-term planning for sports development, which becomes optional. This trend is prevalent in the majority of the over fifty sports federations in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Judo Federation is no exception. Political influence seems to play a role in climbing the federation's ladder, further pushing sports into the background. An attempt has been made to highlight the details of Bangladesh chess through this report.
In international cricket, Bangladesh has secured victories in 11 out of 32 One Day Internationals (ODIs), with 18 losses and three matches yielding no result. In the T20 format, excluding the series against New Zealand, Bangladesh has played 8 matches, winning 7 and losing one. The true picture of cricket in the country in 2023 cannot be understood. The mathematical statistics do not capture the myriad challenges afflicting cricket in Bangladesh. In football, with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws in 14 matches, the statistical summary fails to convey the true picture. Football, entangled in diverse complexities and limitations, finds itself on a path overshadowed by challenges. Beyond cricket and football, success appears elusive, and the narrative of failure pervades almost every aspect in 2023.