Sports can build worthy citizens: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said children can build themselves as worthy citizens of the country through participation in sports, exercise and cultural events apart from studies.

“I want that our children will build themselves as the worthy citizens of the country through participating in sports, exercise and cultural events apart of studies,” she said.

The premier was addressing the prize distribution ceremony of Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament at the Army Stadium in the capital.

She said that while in power she tried to make children more interested in sports.

“Because sports provide physical and mental strength to human beings and teach discipline, obedience and patriotism,” she said.

Hasina said that through sports the country can be advanced further and make it better known to the whole world.

“We see that our boys and girls are showing their expertise in sports in the world arena,” she said.

In this connection she mentioned that women football team of Bangladesh became the champions of the SAFF Women Championship 2022.

She said that five players of that team emerged from this Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament.

The prime minister said that the government is building one mini stadium in every upazila aiming to create facilities for sports round the year.

“We are also creating scope for the disables and autistics to have practice and academy,” she said.

She also asked the authorities concerned to give equal scope for the domestic sports of the country side by side other sports.

“Through the domestic sports children will get chance to flourish their merits,” she said.

Earlier, the premier enjoyed the second half of the grand final held between Bancharampur Model Government Primary School, Brahmanbaria and Patgram Tepurgari BK Government Primary School, Lalmonirhat.

In the final of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament, Jamalpur's Motherganj Chargolabari Government Primary School beat Rangpur's Mithapukur Talimganj Government Primary School.

Patgram Tepurgari BK Government Primary School, Lalmonirhat beat

Bancharampur Model Government Primary School, Brahmanbaria in the final of the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament.

The prime minister distributed prizes and medals among the members of the champion and runner-up teams of the two tournaments.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Ministry Rumana Ali, Primary and Mass Education secretary Farid Ahmed also spoke at the event.