Safe environment free from bigotry needed to advance women in sports: Women's Sports Association president

To advance women in sports, it is not enough to simply organise competitions. A safe environment, regular training, necessary sports equipment and family support must be ensured, said Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla, president of the Bangladesh Women's Sports Association.

She made the remarks while visiting sports facilities in Rangpur on Wednesday, August 12. During her visit, she inspected the Rangpur Divisional Women's Complex and reviewed ongoing activities for the development and promotion of women's sports. After the visit, she held an exchange meeting with members of the Women's Sports Association's ad-hoc committee at the Rangpur Circuit House. The meeting discussed the current state of women's sports in the Rangpur region, potential, training of athletes, sports infrastructure, necessary equipment and future action plans.

Speakers at the meeting said many girls in upazila and remote areas are being deprived of sports opportunities due to financial constraints, conservatism, lack of safety, child marriage and shortage of necessary sports equipment. They stressed the need to remove these barriers and create opportunities for girls to participate in sports.

They further said that if girls take up sports as a profession, families must stand by them. It is essential to build confidence among families and society that sports can provide income and a respectable career in the future.

To this end, the meeting emphasised increasing girls' participation in various sports competitions, including the upcoming second phase of 'Notun Kuri Sports' and the ongoing Prime Minister's Cup. Speakers called for identifying talented female athletes from the grassroots level through these competitions and providing them with proper training and opportunities.

Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla said that in addition to removing social and family barriers, girls must be made confident to increase their participation in sports. Opportunities must be created so that a girl can choose sports not just as recreation but as a future profession and career.

She said identifying talented girls spread across the grassroots level and bringing them to the national level is one of the primary goals of the Bangladesh Women's Sports Association, which will provide all necessary assistance in this regard.

The exchange meeting was attended by Additional Superintendent of Police Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman, Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Romiz Alam, retired athletes, sports organisers, coaches, heads of various educational institutions and physical education teachers. General Secretary of Bangladesh Women's Sports Association Sharmin Akhter Ratna and other members of the ad-hoc committee also participated.