No fairs will be allowed in stadiums or sports grounds: State Minister

The government has decided to renovate and reactivate district-level stadiums and swimming complexes across the country, with a strict directive that no fairs or non-sporting events will be allowed at these venues in the future, said Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque.

Speaking at a press briefing in Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday (May 6), after a session with district commissioners under the DC Conference, the minister said many sports facilities across the country have remained unused or partially operational for years.

He said the renovation plan aims to restore full functionality to these infrastructures, enabling the development of athletes from the grassroots level.

“The objective is to revive sports at the local level and produce new athletes from every district,” he said, adding that the government is also working on broader youth development initiatives.

According to the minister, training and employment opportunities are being expanded for young people in sectors such as freelancing and mobile servicing to enhance skills and job prospects.

He also noted that district commissioners have been instructed to ensure proper implementation of ongoing development projects.

Highlighting grassroots sports promotion, Aminul Haque said the “Notun Kuri” sports initiative has been launched to identify and nurture talent across all 64 districts.

Responding to a question on the use of stadiums for fairs, he said no permission has been granted for such activities since he assumed office, and reiterated that stadiums and sports grounds will not be used for fairs in the future.