A new horizon for athletes, Prime Minister launches salary structure and sports card

A historic chapter has begun in the country’s sporting arena. With the aim of establishing sports not merely as a hobby or form of entertainment but as a respected profession, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has officially launched a program to bring national athletes under a structured salary system, along with the introduction of sports allowances and a sports card.

The announcement was made on Monday morning at a held at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office. At the same time, a total of 129 athletes who achieved success at the international level were awarded special and financial rewards amounting to Tk 2 crore 44 lakh.

Addressing the as the chief guest, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said, “With the pledge ‘We will work, we will build the nation, Bangladesh first,’ we aim to transform the sports sector fundamentally.” Recalling the visionary sports philosophy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, he said that the foundation of modern sports infrastructure in the country was laid by him. The current government is further modernizing that vision by implementing a master plan to establish international-standard ‘sports villages’ in every district and playgrounds in every union.

The Prime Minister announced that from April 30, a nationwide grassroots talent hunt will begin under the “Notun Kuri Sports” program. He also mentioned that a process is underway to make sports mandatory from the fourth grade in the national curriculum starting from 2027.

Speaking as a special guest, the State Minister for Youth and Sports highlighted the progress in implementing the government’s election manifesto. He stated that the “sports card” will serve as a strong safeguard to ensure the social and financial security of athletes. He also informed that steps are being taken to create positions for sports officers and teachers in every উপজেলা to expand sports education at the grassroots level. Additionally, seven BKSP branches in divisional cities are being upgraded into full-fledged BKSP institutions to ease the pressure on Dhaka and ensure world-class training at the regional level.

On this day, a total of 129 athletes who brought glory to Bangladesh at the international stage by winning gold, silver, and bronze medals were handed financial cheques by the Prime Minister. Individual gold medalists received Tk 3 lakh, silver medalists Tk 2 lakh, and bronze medalists Tk 1 lakh.

For team events, winners received Tk 2 lakh, Tk 1.5 lakh, and Tk 1 lakh respectively. As part of the sports allowance, each athlete will receive a monthly stipend of Tk 1 lakh. The government has also set an example of inclusive sports culture by bringing athletes with special needs under this recognition.

In his speech, the Prime Minister described young athletes as the of a “golden era of a new Bangladesh.” He expressed hope that through modern training, government financial security, and the development of a full-fledged sports industry, Bangladesh will soon create new history by achieving global success in events like the Olympics, Asian Games, and SAF Games.

The was attended by senior military and civilian officials, leaders of various sports federations, and distinguished athletes of the country.