It is well-known that away from the field of politics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s great love in the field of sport was football. Which is why the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) believes it must play a prominent role in the celebrations centring the Father of the Nation’s centennial, set for next year.
BFF would like to leave its mark on the celebrations through multiple events, taking place throughout the year, including a series of international friendlies involving European teams.
BFF General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem Shohag said that they have proposed their plans of arranging international friendly matches during the last meeting of the 27-member sports sub-committee within the National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Centenary, held at the seminar room of the International Mother Language Institute on Monday.
“We are planning to arrange SAFF Championship, SAFF Under-15 Championship, Bangabandhu Gold Cup, and international football friendly matches between two European nations, say between Portugal, Germany, Italy or European clubs,” Shohag said.
Bangladesh Volleyball Federation (BVF) is also planning to arrange a 10-nation international volleyball tournament and national volleyball championship.
BVF General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku said, “We are planning to arrange a 10-nation international volleyball tournament named after Bangabandhu and national volleyball championship for celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu.”
The sports sub-committee members prepared and proposed a budget of Tk 300 crore to the main committee headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A committee officer, Deb Prasad Pal, said, “The members of the Sports Sub-Committee proposed their budget Tk 300 crore for the events of the 100th birth anniversary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
State Minister for Youth and Sports and the Convener of Sports Sub-Committee Md Zahid Ahsan Russell, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Dr Mohammad Zafar Uddin, Bangladesh Olympic Association Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza, Bangladesh Football Federation General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem Shohag, Bangladesh Hokey Federation General Secretary AKM Mominul Haque Sayed, Bangladesh Volleyball Federation General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku and others were present in the meeting.
Earlier, Bangladesh government announced 2020 the ‘Mujib Year’ and formed two committee on February 14– a 102-member national committee, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a 61-member implementation committee, with National Professor Mohammad Rafiqul Islam as President-for observing the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Since then, ten subcommittees have also been formed to cover various fields, including international sports, cultural programs, films and documentaries, seminars, workshops, international works, media and promotion, and publication and literature.
