After assuming the role of State Minister for Youth and Sports, former national football team captain Aminul Haque held a press conference at his residence in Mirpur to discuss the sports agenda of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government. Aminul, known for his skills in Bangladesh football, took office through the technocrat quota following speculation, despite losing in the national elections for the Dhaka-16 constituency on February 12.
Originally from Bhola and brought up in Mirpur, Aminul kickstarted his professional career with Mohammedan Sporting Club as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Saeed Hasan Kanan. He debuted internationally in 1998 against Qatar, representing Bangladesh until 2011 with a consistent presence in the team.
The 45-year-old unveiled the government’s initiatives to foster a healthy sports environment, enhance ties with India, introduce mandatory sports education from Grade 4 nationwide, develop a sports industry, address cricket-related issues and player concerns, tackle corruption in sports, and address financial challenges faced by national sports bodies. Here are some highlights from his address:
– **Sports Environment:** Aminul emphasized the need to bridge the gap among sports organizers, players, and journalists to cultivate stronger relationships within the sports community.
– **Sporting Relations with India:** He expressed intentions to establish friendly ties with India and neighboring countries through diplomacy, aiming to resolve issues with the ICC in accordance with its regulations.
– **Overall Sports Plan:** The government plans to mandate five sports disciplines, including football and cricket, from Grade 4 onwards in schools. It also aims to appoint three sports teachers for each discipline and a sports officer in all 495 upazilas within a year, integrating them into the payroll system.
– **BCB, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza:** Aminul raised concerns about the credibility of the BCB polls and stressed the need for government-level discussions regarding the cases of cricket stalwarts Shakib and Mashrafe.
– **Corruption in Sports:** He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption in sports, committing to uphold integrity in sporting activities.
– **Future of Athletes:** Aminul pledged to secure post-retirement employment opportunities for athletes to ensure financial stability and prioritize their well-being during and after their sporting careers.
– **Politics and Sports:** Acknowledging the historical entanglement of politics in sports, he acknowledged the challenge of immediate depoliticization but affirmed his commitment to maintaining a separation between politics and sports moving forward.