From setbacks to success: charting a new course for national sports

Syed Aminul Haque Dewan Sajal from Bogura was appointed as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation during the BNP regime, while Mullah Badrul Saif from Gopalganj held a prominent position during the Awami League's rule. This illustrates the impact of political rivalry on the sports sector in the country. However, politics is not the only issue affecting the sports arena; the influence of district and divisional organizing councils, commonly referred to as forums, also plays a significant role. To understand this influence, it's essential to note that there are 55 sports federations and associations affiliated with the National Sports Council.

A few federations have elections where the majority of voters are from outside the forum. This means that the key to the elections of most sports federations or associations remains in the hands of the forum. This is because the forum’s members include 64 districts and 8 divisions, making a total of 72. As a result, the organization with the majority of voters in all federations' elections remains consolidated. Consequently, candidates in national sports federation and association elections need the forum’s blessing. In the electoral arena, this blessing is sometimes obtained through the distribution of various positions within the relevant federations. In other cases, financial connections are also found in the elections of different federations and associations. In some instances, the financial aspect is not hidden. Individuals holding important positions in the forum have not denied such allegations to the media in the past.

Due to the influence wielded by the forum, actual sports organizers often find themselves sidelined. A clear example of this is the Bangladesh Badminton Federation. During the May 2023 elections for the general secretary position, there were multiple candidates vying for the role. The election pitted the forum against an alliance of former players. Ultimately, the forum's dominance forced the ex-players' council to concede various positions.

Alamgir Hossain, a forum member and General Secretary of the Barguna District Sports Association, was appointed as the general secretary after a compromise was reached. Interestingly, despite the presence of many experienced and qualified badminton candidates, Alamgir Hossain, who had no previous involvement with badminton, ended up securing the position.

This scenario illustrates how, year after year, the selection process for sports federations in the country is often held hostage by political and organizational influences. As a result, individuals with little to no relevant experience can end up in key positions, while genuine sports professionals are pushed aside.

The recent elections within the Bangladesh Hockey Federation provide a vivid example of how political maneuvering and financial influence can shape the leadership of sports organizations. Legendary hockey players and veteran organizers, such as Abdus Sadeq, have found themselves sidelined in the face of these power struggles. Allegations of significant financial transactions affecting the election outcomes have been rampant. One notable instance is the election of Mominul Haque Sayeed, a figure linked to the casino scandal, as General Secretary with the forum's backing. After completing his first term, Sayeed was re-elected for a second term despite being removed from his position as councilor of Ward 9 in Dhaka South City Corporation. During this period, he reportedly used muscle power to prevent former player and experienced organizer Sajeed AA Adel from becoming a councilor, leading to a court case. This situation highlights a broader issue of how political influence, financial manipulation, and muscle power have come to dominate the management of various sports federations and associations in the country.

On August 21, a letter signed by SM Humayun Kabir, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, dissolved the upazila, district, divisional, and women's sports organizations. While this action has temporarily isolated the forum, there is no guarantee that it will not be reorganized in the future. If reinstated, the forum could potentially continue to wield significant influence over the sports arena, shaping the direction and leadership of national sports organizations in ways that may not always prioritize the interests of the sport itself.

Bangladesh hockey has long been seen as a sport with significant potential, particularly with opportunities like the Youth World Cup within reach. However, organizational issues have repeatedly caused the country to miss out on these opportunities. The sport is plagued by factionalism among its organizers; whenever one faction makes progress, another often obstructs their efforts. As insiders succinctly put it, "The real problem of the game is the organizers." Unfortunately, a solution to this problem remains elusive, and it is uncertain whether the current search committee will succeed in addressing it.

Previous governments' indifference towards sports and the misuse of political influence to rehabilitate members of the ruling party led to the normalization of the aforementioned irregularities in the sports sector. Since the interim government took office, there have been reform initiatives in various sectors, including sports, which are providing hope to genuine sports enthusiasts. There is also hope for establishing real democracy in sports by curbing the forum's dominance. Despite the potential for progress, the sports sector in the country seems to be moving in the wrong direction. Will the current government's initiatives successfully steer the sports sector back onto the right path?

he current government has formed a search committee to oversee reforms in the sports sector. This five-member committee will monitor the intricacies of the sports domain over the next two months and will submit its recommendations to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Based on these recommendations, the framework for the future of the sports sector is expected to be developed. According to various sources, the committee is likely to recommend the removal of those who have held the position of General Secretary for over 10 years. This is undoubtedly a positive move, as there are many sports federations where the same person has held the position of General Secretary for 30-35 years. The number of such federations is not just one, two, or three, but significantly more. While some of these federations have remained active and have established themselves as promising entities in the global arena, it is still uncertain whether these federations will receive any special consideration.

Sports experts argue that not all federations should be evaluated with the same criteria. They suggest that each federation’s performance should be assessed based on its overall activities, international engagement, and potential. Some federations are highly active domestically but struggle to perform well on the international stage. Experts recommend that these federations be maintained at a steady level, focusing on strengthening their local impact. Conversely, federations with promising international prospects should receive special consideration and support. A structural and systemic overhaul is deemed necessary to invigorate Bangladeshi sports and make them more dynamic. This change could provide a framework for more effective development and better international performance.

In this context, former swimmer Karar Mizanur Rahman—who has won multiple medals at the South Asian Games and South Asian Swimming Championship—shared his perspective with View Bangladesh. Despite being in exile, Rahman continues to monitor the country’s sports scene closely. He believes that now is an ideal time to reorganize the sports sector based on recent transitions and global potential. Rahman emphasizes that while past management of the sports arena has been mediocre, continuing on this path will not only hinder progress but make improvement nearly impossible.

Karar Mizanur Rahman, the esteemed swimmer from Nikli in Kishoreganj who has made a mark as the best swimmer in South Asia, highlighted the importance of strategic planning for major events like the South Asian Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics. He stressed the need for careful attention to federations with international potential while suggesting that federations lacking such potential should be placed in a separate category. This categorization, he believes, could foster healthy competition within the sports sector and facilitate promotion from one grade to another.

Turning to a specific example, Bangladesh’s performance in Kabadi has been notably inconsistent. Historically, the country earned regular medals in Kabaddi at the Asian Games. However, since 2014, both the men’s and women’s teams have failed to secure medals. Despite a recent increase in the financial resources of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and some dynamic activities, these efforts have not yet translated into a revival of the sport's former glory. A former Kabaddi player, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that several police officers have led the Kabaddi Federation in recent years as General Secretary or Joint Secretary. While their tenure saw an increase in financial involvement and activity, it has not been sufficient to advance the sport significantly. Decisions made by top officials, despite their intentions, have sometimes hindered the sport's development rather than helping it. The lack of effective leadership and strategic planning continues to be a barrier to restoring Kabadi’s prominence on the international stage.

Bangladesh has historically been successful in Kabadi at the Asian Games, regularly winning medals. However, since 2014, both the men's and women's teams have failed to secure any medals. Despite a recent increase in the financial resources of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, and occasional bursts of activity, these efforts have not been sufficient to restore the sport's former glory. This stagnation has left Bangladesh lagging behind internationally in its national sport. A former Kabadi player, who wished to remain unnamed, noted that the Kabadi Federation has been led by several police officers in recent years as General Secretary or Joint Secretary. While their tenure saw increased financial involvement and activity, these efforts have not translated into meaningful development for the sport. Often, decisions made by these top officials have, paradoxically, hindered the progress of Kabadi in the country.

Despite this, the presence of influential police officers in top positions is not necessarily viewed as problematic. An official with extensive experience in Kabaddi pointed out that the sport has demonstrated its potential to be established as a valuable commodity. Recent years have seen significant sponsorships for both domestic and international competitions, proving that financial resources are available if managed effectively. The key challenge, therefore, is not a lack of money but the need for more dynamic organizational activities to propel the sport forward.

The primary challenge for the newly formed search committee is to identify capable leaders for various sports federations. Finding the right individuals to manage and revitalize these federations is crucial for advancing the sports sector in Bangladesh. Without this effective leadership, the sports arena may continue to stagnate, and the prevailing sentiment of "participation is not success" will persist.

Due to the presence of influential police officers in top positions, objections regarding this issue cannot be raised. A senior officer long associated with kabadi adds, "Bangladesh Kabadi has demonstrated that a sport can be established as a marketable commodity. Recently, there has been substantial sponsorship surrounding both domestic and international competitions. Kabadi has shown that financial constraints are not a problem if one wants to progress in an organized manner. For the national sport to advance, it's crucial to inject dynamism into organizational activities." The major challenge for the newly formed search committee is to identify the right individuals to manage various sports federations while ignoring political and forum influences, so that the country's sports sector can progress effectively. Otherwise, the old dialogue in the country's sports sector will persist—“Participation is more important than success.”

Mahbub Sarkar: Sports journalist and analyst