NSC eye modern makeover for Paltan Gym and Pool

The National Sports Council (NSC) have moved to assess the demolition of the nearly 60-year-old gymnasium in Paltan and the swimming pool adjacent to Dhaka Stadium to make way for modern sports facilities.

On 30 September, the council formed a five-member committee to conduct feasibility studies on the proposed projects under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. The future of the two facilities will depend on the committee’s findings.

The committee is headed by A B M Ehsanul Mamun of the NSC’s Planning and Development Department. Their other members are Director (Finance) Tanmoy Islam, NSC Chairman’s APS Kabir Khan, an engineer, and an architect.

Built during the East Pakistan era, the Paltan gymnasium has long been considered unfit for modern training. The lack of air-conditioning and adequate lighting, coupled with limited space, has made training difficult for athletes in gymnastics, taekwondo, weightlifting and other disciplines. Equipment for different sports is stored in the same cramped space, further disrupting training.

Plans to replace the gymnasium have been discussed several times since 2000, but little visible progress has been made. The latest initiative aims to build modern facilities for indoor sports and swimming, with the feasibility studies expected to determine how and when the projects could be implemented.