Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that building a healthy, talented, disciplined and confident generation is the government’s highest priority, stressing that the integrated development of education, sports, culture and technology will serve as the foundation for Bangladesh’s future progress and prosperity.

In a post published on his verified Facebook page on Sunday (July 26), the prime minister said sports should not be viewed only as a means of physical exercise, entertainment or competition, but also as a potential profession. He said the government has taken initiatives to include sports in the national education curriculum with this vision.

Tarique Rahman said sports play a vital role in building a healthy, energetic and humane society. The government considers sports as a powerful tool for human resource development, national unity and enhancing Bangladesh’s image internationally, he added.

He said continuous programmes are being implemented to identify talents from grassroots levels and develop athletes capable of competing at international standards.

The prime minister said the talent hunt initiative in sports would create an effective and sustainable foundation for the country’s sports development. He congratulated all those involved in the initiative.

Highlighting the importance of sports in youth development, he said today’s children and teenagers are the future of Bangladesh. There is no alternative to sports for nurturing their hidden talents, improving physical and mental abilities, and developing them into citizens enriched with positive values.

He added that sports teach discipline, perseverance, leadership, mutual respect, tolerance and patriotism.

Tarique Rahman described ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ as a landmark initiative of the government, saying it is creating a national framework to identify, nurture and develop sports talents among children aged 10 to 14 from remote areas of the country.

He expressed hope that the programme would become a strong foundation for producing future national team players and athletes who will represent Bangladesh on the global stage.

The prime minister said one of the government’s key commitments is to transform the country’s sports sector into a modern, scientific and internationally competitive arena. He said talented athletes would receive long-term training, necessary support and priority admission opportunities at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP).

He also reiterated his commitment to creating a sports environment where talent, hard work and merit would be the only criteria for success.

He said two new disciplines table tennis and volleyball will be added to the upcoming ‘Notun Kuri Sports 2026-27’, increasing the total number of events to 10. The age limit for participants has also been expanded from 12-14 years to 10-14 years to include more talented young athletes.

The prime minister hoped that these young athletes would one day proudly carry the red and green flag of Bangladesh on the international stage and bring glory to the country.

At the end of his post, Tarique Rahman congratulated all young athletes, coaches, judges, organisers, volunteers and others involved in implementing the first edition of ‘Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26’, wishing success for the closing and prize-giving ceremony.