National Sports Award returns after five years

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is set to reintroduce the 'National Sports Award', the highest state honour for the country's sports arena, after a five-year hiatus. State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has announced that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will present the awards to selected athletes and organisers in June or July.

According to government plans, athletes and organisers who have made outstanding contributions to sports over the past five years, from 2021 to 2025, will be honoured together at a single ceremony. The state award was introduced in 1976 by the then President Ziaur Rahman. It was last conferred in 2020, after which it became irregular.

A major overhaul is also planned for the award selection process this time. State Minister Aminul Haque said there were allegations of political influence in the award process in the past. To ensure transparency and impartiality, a universally recognised national committee will be formed to evaluate and nominate truly deserving individuals.

The government's goal is to establish a permanent culture of honouring athletes in a timely manner by presenting each year's awards within that year itself.

To promote sports at the grassroots level and identify new talent, initiatives have been taken to revive the 'Notun Kuri' sports competition. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the competition on April 30. It will include a total of seven sports, including football and cricket, and will primarily feature young players aged 12 to 14.

Additionally, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will organise a major reception on March 29 to honour individuals and teams who have won medals for the country internationally over the past six months.

The government has also taken various initiatives to improve the living standards of athletes. The state minister informed that work has begun to bring 500 national-level players under a permanent salary structure.

According to concerned parties, implementation of these initiatives will create a professional environment in the country's sports arena. It is expected to encourage athletes achieving success internationally and bring grassroots talent to the national level, giving new momentum to the country's sports sector.