United News of Bangladesh

What was once envisioned as a milestone project for women’s sports in Rangpur has now become a grazing ground for cattle and goats. The Tk 38-crore women’s sports complex, constructed on 10 acres of land in Uttam Hajir Haat area of Rangpur city, has been lying abandoned for years due to poor planning, lack of maintenance and official neglect. The complex, launched by the National Sports Council in 2017, was meant to inspire female athletes and provide them with modern facilities, including dormitories, a gymnasium, an indoor stadium and training grounds. Although construction was not fully complete, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated the project on August 2, 2023, during an election rally at Rangpur Zilla School field. A glimpse of its potential was seen in 2022, when the ‘Divisional Commissioner Cup Women’s Football Tournament’ brought together women’s teams from eight districts of Rangpur division. But since then, the gates have remained largely shut. During a recent visit, this correspondent found the main gate of the complex locked while a smaller side gate stood ajar. Local residents were seen grazing cattle, cutting grass and moving freely across the overgrown field now covered in weeds and wild plants. The infrastructure tells a story of abandonment: broken windows, damp walls, stained plaster, and crumbling corners. ACC probes alleged fund misuse in Cumilla ‘mini stadium’ project The gymnasium remains padlocked, the dormitories gather dust and cobwebs and algae stains the floors. What were once modern facilities have now been reduced to relics of mismanagement. “It’s been nine years since we saw any tournament here. This huge complex has been rotting for years and no one seems to care,” said local resident Azizul Bari Swapan. Another resident, Afsana Akter, expressed her disappointment, “We thought girls would play here regularly and we’d get a chance too. But now, it’s not a field anymore—just a place for cows to graze. We can’t even go there.” Sports enthusiasts say the neglect represents more than wasted infrastructure—it is a missed opportunity for promoting women’s sports in northern Bangladesh. “If this sports complex had been made operational, it could have opened up a new horizon for women’s sports,” said former cricketer and coach Arifa Jahan Bithi. She went on to say, “Everything is here, but due to lack of staffing and proper support, it’s falling apart. A multi-crore project is now in ruins. I don’t know why it hasn’t been opened yet. It seems like a complete waste of public money.” Bangladesh to construct 201 mini-stadiums under a mega project Authorities have acknowledged the failure. Selowara Begum, the current member-secretary of the Women’s Sports Complex Committee, admitted, “It’s unfortunate that the complex has been left in neglect for so long. We are now considering how to engage the local girls in sports and have already begun working on it. We will investigate what went wrong in the previous years.” Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Rabiul Faisal also assured that initiatives are underway. “Steps will be taken soon to make the Women’s Sports Complex operational. Meetings have already been held and a women’s football tournament will be launched shortly,” he said.

GM Ziaur Rahman and FM Subrata Biswas took the joint lead in the Dr Abul Kashem Chowdhury Memorial 2nd International Rating Chess Tournament Wednesday. They both secured five points each after the sixth round of Category A matches at the National Sports Council in Dhaka. IM Mohammad Minhaz Uddin secured the second position with 4.5 points. FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia, CM Md Sharif Hossain and WFM Nazrana Khan Eva shared the third position after securing four points each. Tutul Dhar took the sole lead in Category B of the tournament, securing seven points after the seventh-round matches. Feroz Ahmed, Md Sajidul Haque and Abdul Momin shared the second position with six points each. The fifth and sixth-round matches of Category A and the sixth and seventh-round matches of Category B were held today. In the day's fifth-round matches of Category A, GM Zia beat FM Subrata, FM Tahsin beat Md Masum Hossain, CM Sharif outplayed CM Md Shawket Bin Osman Shaon, IM Minhaz beat CM Sohel Chowdhury, and Shafiq Ahmed outplayed CM Manon Reja Neer. WFM Eva drew with CM Md Jamal, FM Khanderkar Aminul Islam drew with FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman and CM Chanchal Kumer Ghosh drew with Md Abzid Rahman. In the sixth-round matches, GM Zia beat CM Sharif, FM Subrota beat FM Tahsin, IM Minhaz beat Shafiq, FM KH Amin drew with CM Shaon, CM Jamal drew with Masum, WFM Eva beat CM Neer, Anata Choudhury beat Abzid, FM Mahfuz beat CM Chanchal, and Md Abu Hanif beat Avik Sarker. In the sixth round matches of Category B, Tutul beat Sajid, Sayor beat Raison, Argho drew with Shafiq, Riad beat Rashed, Shuvo drew with Sakline, Feroz beat Arif, and Siddiq beat Ullash. In the seventh round matches of Category B, Tutul beat Sayor, Feroz beat Shatadru, Raison drew with Riad, Siddiq drew with Nasir, Momin beat Argho, Sajid beat Shafiq, Sakline beat Ataur, and Shuvo beat Asif. The seventh-round matches of Category A and the eighth-round matches of Category B will be held Thursday at 3:30pm at the same venue.

The prize distribution ceremony of the Inter-Bank Chess Tournament’ 2022, organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation and co-organised by Like Mart and Sports Bangla was held at the Chess Federation Hall-Room of the National Sports Council Tuesday afternoon. Chairman of the Palli Sanchay Bank M. Akram-Al-Hossain was the chief guest at the day’s function and later he distributed prizes among the winners. Also read:Inter-Bank Chess Championship prize distribution ceremony Tuesday  Deputy Managing Director of Sonali Bank Limited M. Mojibur Rahman, General Manager of Janata Bank Limited Masfiul Bari, President of the meet co-organiser Sports-Bangla Arifuzzaman Arif, among others, were present at the function, chaired by vice president of Bangladesh Chess Federation KM Shahidullah. Champions Janata Bank Limited received a cash prize money of Taka 1,00,000 (one lac) ,runners-up Sonali Bank Limited got Tk 50,000 (fifty thousand),  and the 3rd ranked BRAC Bank richer with Tk 25,000 (twenty five thousand) in addition to trophies and medals. Also read: Asian Online Chess: Bappi Sarkar of Bangladesh stands 6th Besides, all the participating teams were awarded with the trophies.

Walton has been honoured with the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award 2021 for its contribution to all forms of games and sports across the country. The company has been sponsoring international, rural and traditional sports including cricket, football and hockey over a decade. Walton was recognised as the country's best sponsor organisation Thursday at a function held on the 72nd birth anniversary of Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal at the Sheikh Kamal auditorium of the National Sports Council (NSC) in the capital.  Read: 10 sports personalities, 2 organisations receive Sheikh Kamal Sports Award Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually joined the award-giving ceremony as chief guest. State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell presided over the function. Senior Executive Director (Games and Sports) of Walton Group FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Dawn received the award on behalf of Walton. Read: Akbar and Ruman among 12 to receive Sheikh Kamal sports award The NSC launched the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award, featuring seven categories. Twelve persons and organisations including sports figures, journalists and organisers received the award. Alongside Walton, the recipients of the award include cricketer Akbar Ali, female footballer Unnoti Khatun, archer Ruman Shana, weightlifter Mabia Akhter Simanta, swimmer Mahfuza Khatun Shila, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Read Walton brings 64-megapixel penta-camera Primo ZX4

The National Sports Council (NSC) will hand over its newly introduced "Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award" Thursday. The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket champions Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali has been picked for the annual sports awards in the emerging sportsman category, famed archer Ruman Shana in sportsman category, and Mohammad Quamruzzaman in journalist category. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will grace the award distribution ceremony at Sheikh Kamal Auditorium of NSC Tower Thursday at 11am as the chief guest and will hand over the awards to 10 sportsmen, journalists, organisers and two organisations through a virtual platform. Each award comes with Tk1 lakh, a crest and a certificate. State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell disclosed this at a press conference arranged on the occasion of the 72nd birthday celebration of Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Kamal NSC awards distribution programme at the NSC conference room today. Read: NSC to introduce Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award this year Recipients of Sheikh Kamal award Lifetime achievement: Kazi M Salahuddin Sportsmen: Ruman Shana (archery), Mahfuza Khatun Shila (swimming) and Mabia Akhter Simanta (weightlifting) Emerging sportsman: Akbar Ali (cricket), Fahad Rahman (chess), and Unnoti Khatun (football) Organisers: Monjur Kader (Sheikh Jamal DC) and Kyaw Shwe Hla (karate) Journalist: Mohammad Quamruzzaman Organisation: Bangladesh Cricket Board Patron: Walton.

The National Sports Council (NSC) has decided to rename the National Tennis Complex at Ramna after Bangabandhu’s son Lt Sheikh Jamal.

The government has allotted Tk 3 crore as humanitarian aid for 150 distressed athletes in the country on Tuesday.

Chattogram District team clinched the 4th National Tchoukball Championship title beating Chapainawabganj District team by 46-33 goals in the final at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium here on Wednesday.