Mini stadium planned for Dhamrai; 4,599 playgrounds nationwide

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has said a mini stadium will be built in Dhamrai as part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure.

The minister said mini stadiums would be constructed in every upazila, while 4,599 playgrounds would be prepared across the country to promote sports and identify talented athletes from the grassroots.

The state minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Football Tournament 2026 at the Valum Ataur Rahman Khan Degree College ground in Dhamrai on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, Aminul said the large turnout reflected Bangladesh’s passion for sports and stressed the role of sports in bringing positive change to society.

“We want to bring qualitative change to the country through sports. There is no alternative to sports in building a humane Bangladesh beyond political differences,” he said.

He said the government’s initiative aims to discover talent at the grassroots, adding that sports are no longer confined to Dhaka but have spread across the country.

Aminul also pledged to make all Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) centres self-sufficient and ensure they are operated under specific guidelines.