President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday stressed the need to expand sports facilities across the country to protect young people from drug addiction, excessive mobile phone use and despair, saying sports play a vital role in building a healthy and disciplined nation.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the Arafat Rahman Koko 18th National Summer Athletics Competition 2026 at the National Stadium in Dhaka by releasing balloons and festoons in the evening.

The president said sports teach young people discipline, perseverance and self-confidence, while expanding access to playgrounds and sporting activities is essential to protect the younger generation from destructive influences.

“Without sports, there is no alternative to keeping the younger generation away from drug addiction, mobile phone addiction and frustration,” he said, stressing the need to promote sports to build a healthy nation.

Describing athletics as the mother of all sports, Mirza Fakhrul said it provides a true test of an athlete's speed, strength, agility, discipline and endurance. A strong foundation in athletics would also help improve Bangladesh's performance in other sporting disciplines, he added.

Sports are a symbol of national pride and unity, the president said, adding that seeing the national flag fly and hearing the national anthem at international sporting events is a matter of pride for the entire nation.

“At that moment, we have only one identity – we are Bangladeshis,” he said, calling for greater efforts to develop homegrown athletes capable of bringing success to the country on the international stage.

The president said a new enthusiasm had emerged in the country's sports sector, crediting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for playing an important role in promoting different sporting disciplines from the grassroots level.

He expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to the prime minister for his initiatives to advance sports.

Mirza Fakhrul said the government had undertaken various initiatives to promote sports, build a healthy nation and create employment opportunities.

These include the introduction of sports cards and sports allowances, talent identification programmes at the grassroots level, and plans to establish modern sports villages at the district level, he said.

The president said the prime minister had directed the authorities to ensure a playground in every union and that work on the initiative had already begun.

He urged the relevant authorities to recover illegally occupied playgrounds, preserve existing sports facilities and identify suitable locations for developing new fields.

Emphasising equal opportunities for women athletes, the president said no sporting talent should be lost because of financial hardship.

He called for regular competitions at school, college, district and upazila levels to identify and nurture promising athletes. He also urged the relevant authorities to introduce inter-school sports competitions.

To develop world-class athletes, the president called on industrial enterprises, banks, insurance companies and businesspeople to come forward as long-term sponsors alongside the government.

He expressed hope that the competition would produce many talented athletes who would bring further glory to Bangladesh in international sporting events.

Noting that the competition had been dedicated to the memory of prominent sports organiser Arafat Rahman Koko, the president prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul and formally declared the competition open.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Bangladesh Athletics Federation President Mohammad Abdullah Zaber. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque attended as a special guest, while federation General Secretary Advocate Ali Imam Tapan delivered the welcome address.

A march-past by 57 participating teams was held before the competition began, followed by a performance of the event's theme song.

Former athletes Mohiuddin Ahmed and Sumita Rani Das lit the Games torch.

After the inauguration, the president watched the men's and women's 100-metre sprint events and presented medals to the winners.

 State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam, Bangladesh Athletics Federation President Mohammad Abdullah Zaber and its General Secretary Advocate Ali Imam Tapan welcomed him on arrival of Mirza Fakhrul at the National Stadium.