Tk1,244cr seed fund for federations

Bangladesh’s government has unveiled a historic Tk1,244cr institutional seed fund to make sports federations financially self-reliant, while ordering every governing body to organise at least four domestic tournaments and take part in three international competitions annually.

Aminul Haque, the state minister for Youth and Sports, who also serves as chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), announced the decisions during an exchange meeting with top 14 newly appointed officials at the NSC conference room on Sunday.

The seed fund, approved by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, will allocate 75% of annual profits to federations for daily operations and athlete welfare, focusing on sports like football, hockey, archery, and shooting. The remaining 25% will be reinvested for long-term stability.

The minister reiterated a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, mentioning that irregularities from the past 17 years are under investigation. He emphasised that the law applies equally to all and warned that anyone found guilty will face legal prosecution and administrative sanctions.

The minister called for a safe environment for female athletes, praising the Bangladesh Women's Sports Association and shooter Sharmin Akhter Ratna, while demanding better security across sports complexes. He instructed ad-hoc officials to remain dedicated until District Sports Association elections are completed. Leaders from 14 federations attended, with discussions with 13 remaining ad-hoc bodies scheduled for Monday.