PM asks to establish playgrounds in every union

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the authorities to establish playgrounds in every union across the country to ensure a healthy, beautiful and sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents and young people.

He also instructed the authorities to establish at least 1,000 playgrounds across the country within the next two months.

The Prime Minister gave the directives at a meeting on establishing union-based playgrounds and expanding sports activities held at the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday afternoon, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Suzauddowla (Sujon Mahmud).

He said the Prime Minister instructed the Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations to ensure at least one playground for every two to three wards.

As part of the initiative, discussions were held on making 40 playgrounds in Dhaka North City Corporation and 90 in Dhaka South City Corporation suitable for sports and launching regular sporting activities there by December.

The deputy press secretary said the Prime Minister, stressing the implementation of the commitment made in the election manifesto, instructed the authorities to establish at least one playground in every union.

He also stressed expanding opportunities for sports for the physical and mental development of the next generation and keeping the playgrounds open to all.

The meeting was informed that an initiative has been taken to establish playgrounds in phases in all 4,599 unions across the country.

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So far, 403 pieces of khas land have been identified in 27 districts for playgrounds.

There is also a plan to keep the size of each playground between three and eight bighas.

A decision has been taken to appoint a sports officer in each upazila to ensure proper maintenance of the playgrounds and regular sporting activities.

Besides, a plan has been taken to involve around 14 lakhs adolescents in 10 sporting events, including football, cricket, volleyball and badminton, at the union level.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the sports programme simultaneously in all 503 upazilas from Khulna on 5 November.

The meeting also stressed making the existing upazila stadiums operational and suitable for sports, recovering occupied playgrounds and introducing regular sports and sports club activities in every educational institution.

The Prime Minister instructed the ministries and agencies concerned to work in a coordinated manner to preserve all playgrounds across the country, continue sports and cultural activities throughout the year and build a healthy, beautiful and sports-friendly generation within the next five years, Sujon Mahmud said.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque,  Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafique Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam and Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin attended the meeting.