National Stadium environment ‘not up to standard’: Aminul

Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque on Monday made a surprise visit to the Dhaka National Stadium to inspect the condition of the country’s premier sporting venue and its surrounding areas.

During the visit, the State Minister walked around the outer premises of the stadium and observed several issues including roadside shops, congestion from numerous vehicles and piles of waste scattered around the area.

The visit was accompanied by National Sports Council (NSC) Executive Director (Joint Secretary) Md Doulotuzzaman Khan.

Speaking after the inspection, Aminul said the condition of the stadium environment does not reflect the standard expected of a national venue that regularly hosts international sporting events.

He said the matter came to his attention after a meeting at the NSC regarding the upcoming “Notun Kuri Sports” programme, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on 30 April.

“The meeting discussed the responsibilities of district commissioners, UNOs (upazila executive officers), district sports officers and other officials to ensure the successful implementation of the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ initiative,” the State Minister said.

“After the meeting, I felt it was necessary to look at the condition of the Dhaka National Stadium myself. Unfortunately, the environment here is not stadium-friendly. We have already discussed with the NSC officials how to restore a proper sporting atmosphere.”

The former Bangladesh football team captain stated that authorities will review whether the shops around the stadium are operating according to the policies under which they were allotted space.

He added that firm measures will be taken after Eid-ul-Fitr to bring discipline to the stadium premises.

During the visit, Aminul also raised concerns about the roller skating facility inside the stadium complex.

He questioned whether the sport currently has enough infrastructure or participation in Bangladesh to justify the dedicated space.

“I have heard that the facility was established earlier under pressure. We are planning to develop more indoor sports facilities, including a gymnasium and a modern sports village concept. So we will review whether the roller skating facility should remain or be replaced with something more practical,” he noted.

The State Minister also pointed out the poor condition of the stadium’s swimming pool, which he said is currently not being used for regular swimming activities.

“We want to bring back a proper swimming environment. If necessary, we will consider installing a shed over the pool. I have already asked the executive director to prepare a comprehensive plan so that visible improvements can begin after Eid,” he said.

Responding to a query regarding an allegedly Tk5 crore scoreboard installed near the swimming pool that has remained non-functional for five years, the State Minister expressed strong concerns over possible irregularities.

“A scoreboard cannot cost Tk5 crore. If that happened, it was clearly done for corruption. There is no opportunity for corruption now, and under the Prime Minister’s directive we are committed to stopping it completely,” he explained.

Aminul also revealed that the government is considering bringing referees from different sports disciplines under the direct framework of the NSC to ensure better coordination and support.

He said discussions have started on how referees can be provided with greater facilities, communication channels and institutional backing, though the proposal is yet to be finalised.