'Notun Kuri' to hunt for grassroots talent, with contests from union to national level

The government has launched the 'Notun Kuri Sports' programme to find sporting talent at the grassroots. Under the programme, ward-level teams will be formed in unions and city corporation wards, followed by sports competitions at upazila, district, regional and national levels.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque gave the information on Monday in the National Parliament, answering a written question from MP Md Amir Hamza. Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presided over the session.

The state minister said the government is expanding grassroots sports activities to check drugs and teenage gangs. The Directorate of Sports under the Ministry of Youth and Sports is working tirelessly to successfully implement the government's sports policy, build a healthy and strong nation, and raise the country's sports to world standards.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman launched the countrywide 'Notun Kuri Sports' programme on 2 May 2026 from the Sylhet District Stadium.

Under the programme, competitions are being organised in football, volleyball, table tennis, cricket, badminton, kabaddi, martial arts, athletics and chess, among other sports.

Swimming, rural games, and sports training and competitions for children with special needs are also being organised, the state minister said.

He said the main objective of 'Notun Kuri Sports' is to discover and select the hidden sporting talent of children aged 10 to 14 through sports alongside their studies, and to create opportunities for them to develop their talent with state patronage.

He added that in the first phase of the programme, ward-level teams will be formed in unions and city corporation wards.

Then, in stages, competitions will be held at the upazila, district, regional and national levels.

The state minister told Parliament that the core aim of the programme is to find talent from the grassroots and nurture it with state support.