Two Dhanmondi grounds under Youth and Sports Ministry

The Youth and Sports Ministry has taken responsibility for the preservation, maintenance and proper management of two major sports grounds in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi residential area, commonly known as Abahani Ground and Dhanmondi Sports Club Ground.

The two grounds, which have been under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, were allocated for the benefit of two of the country’s leading clubs. The clubs had worked to develop the sites into proper sporting facilities, building modern playing grounds, sports infrastructure and club facilities.

However, the joint management of the two grounds has now been taken up by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

On Thursday, the two ministries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the Youth and Sports Ministry will be responsible for the preservation, maintenance and proper management of Dhanmondi Cricket Ground and Dhanmondi Ground.

The MoU was signed at the Secretariat in the presence of Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque and senior officials from both ministries.

Following the signing, Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said the Housing and Public Works Ministry owns many grounds, while cities, including Dhaka, lack adequate playing fields.

“Instead of limiting these grounds to a single sport, developing sports complexes with facilities for different sports would increase their use and benefit more people. If multipurpose sports complexes are developed on these grounds, people in the surrounding areas, particularly young people and children, will have access to different sporting facilities. It will also ensure proper use of the grounds,” Taher said.

Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque said the two ministries had discussed how to make better use of Dhanmondi Ground and Abahani Ground.

“There are plans to add new facilities to the existing infrastructure at Dhanmondi Ground. We also plan to create opportunities for different sports at Abahani Ground and Dhanmondi Ground, including small turfs for futsal, padel, shooting, archery and hockey,” Aminul said.