ZCZC
BSP-13
BANGABANDHU-BANGLADESH-GAMES
Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Games to begin April 1
DHAKA, March 28, 2021 (BSS)- The 9th version of the country’s biggest
multi-sports event, Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Games, named after Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be held from April 1-10.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the mega domestic
sports festival as the chief guest from virtual platform.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is organizing the games marking
the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
and golden jubilee of independence.
Some 5,300 sportsmen from all over the country will compete in 31
disciplines of sports for 1271 medals including 378 gold at twenty nine
venues of seven district across the country.
The cricket event already concluded and the men’s football event already
has begun from Saturday last in Cumilla while the women’s football will begin
from tomorrow at Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in
the city’s Kamalapur.
The inauguration ceremony of the games will feature various aspect of
country’s sports.
The budget of the games was earlier estimated at thirty eight crore but in
the end it has been reduced to Taka twenty crore. The BOA will get Taka
fifteen crore from the government.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Olympic Association president and Army chief General
Aziz Ahmed will lit the torch on Tuesday (March 30) morning at the
Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex in Tungipara. The torch will be received at the
BNS by golfer Siddikur Rahman and swimmer Mahfuza Khatun Shila. Country’s ace
archer Roman Sana will take oath on behalf of the athletes at the inaugural
ceremony.
“We have completed all kinds of preparations … the Bangabandhu
Bangladesh Games will be held across the country and hope the games will get
a success,” said BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza at a press conference
held today at the BOA auditorium.
The BOA secretary general said they have conducted COVID-19 test over all
the athletes and only those who will be negative, will be allowed to
participate in the Games.
Besides, all other precautions have been taken so that the games can be
held properly, he added.
Earlier, the Games was originally scheduled to be held in April last year
but now will begin on April 1 after the games was postponed for an indefinite
period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOA vice president and chairman of the Games steering committee Sheikh
Bashir Ahmed Mamun, BOA deputy secretary general and Games steering committee
co-chairman Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, BOA deputy secretary general and Games
steering committee’s member secretary Ashikur Rahman Miku and BOA treasurer
and media and publication’s committee’s member secretary Kazi Rajib Uddin
Ahmed Chapal were also present in the press conference.
BSS/SG/RY/1825hrs