Sports Can Keep Youth Away from Crime, Says State Minister for Housing and Public Works

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmed Sohel Manjur has said there is no alternative to sports for keeping young people away from criminal tendencies and raising them in a healthy and normal life. He said the youth are the driving force of the country, and so the young generation must be engaged in sports alongside their studies.

He made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at the final match of the ‘Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Football Tournament’, held on Friday (6 November) afternoon at the field of Government Swarupkathi Pilot Model Secondary School in Nesarabad upazila, Pirojpur.

The state minister said that during the tenures of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, major contributions were also made to the development of the country’s sports arena. Their role in the spread of sports was significant, and the current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is carrying that continuity forward.

He said the government has taken various policy steps and long-term plans to build sports up not merely as a pastime, but as a dignified and permanent profession.

He added that the government has planned to build one playground in every union of the country, and work towards that goal has already begun.

Noting that Bangladesh has earned special recognition in the world through cricket, the state minister expressed hope that Bangladesh will one day advance on the international stage in football as well.

Among those present at the event were Md. Abdullah Al Beruni Saikat, former member secretary of Nesarabad Upazila BNP; Md. Shafiqul Islam Farid, former convener of Swarupkathi Municipal BNP and former municipal mayor; Md. Nasir Uddin Talukder, former senior joint convener of Nesarabad Upazila BNP; Md. Moinul Hasan, general secretary of Swarupkathi Municipal BNP; Md. Wahiduzzaman Manik, former joint convener of Municipal BNP; and other local leaders.

Earlier on Friday morning, the state minister inspected the progress of a bridge under construction at a cost of Tk 22 crore in the Napitkhali area of the upazila. He urged the contractor concerned to complete the construction within the scheduled time.

He later inspected the progress of various development works in the upazila and visited sites of possible projects. Finally, he inaugurated a rest house built on the initiative of the upazila administration.

In the interest of organisational discipline and mutual courtesy, leaders, workers and well-wishers have been specially requested not to use personal photographs taken with the State Minister for Housing and Public Works, or any photograph taken in his presence, as a profile photo on social media.