Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed importance of sports to eradicate militancy, drug abuse among youth. She made this remark today while speaking at the awards giving function at the National Sports Award for the years of 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital.The premier also announced to build cricket stadium in Purbachal and football stadium in Cox’s Bazar and establish BKSP in each division across the country. She said sports opportunity should be created to bring back the youth and also expects that one day Bangladesh cricket team will win World Cup cricket trophy.A total of 32 sports personalities including Shaheed Sheikh Kamal and country`s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the games and sports.Sheikh Kamal, a glittering star in sports arena during the post-independence period and the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been selected for the National Sports Award (posthumously) for 2011, while Shakib Al Hasan has been selected for the award for 2012. Sheikh Kamal was assassinated along with Bangabandhu and most of his family members by a group of derailed military officers under a well-orchestrated plot on August 15 in 1975.The National Sports Award, introduced in 1976, is the highest honour bestowed upon a sports personality. A total of 188 sports personalities so far have been given the award, which includes 19 cricketers. Before Shakib, ICC Trophy winning captain Akram Khan received the award in 1998 while Mohammad Rafique, the architect of country’s first-ever one-day international win, got the national award in 2006. Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Masud will also receive the award for the year 2011. The recipients of national sports award for 2010 are: Harun-Ur-Rashid (swimming), Atiqur Rahman (shooting), Mahmuda Begum (athletics), Dewan Md. Nazrul Islam (gymnastics), Mizanur Rahman Manu (organiser), ASM Ali Kabir (organiser), Md. Tokbir Hossain (swimming, posthumously), Farid Khan Chowdhury (athletics), Neli Jesmine (athletics) and Nipa Bosh (athletics, Autistic).The recipients of national sports award for 2011 are: Rowshan Ara Chobi (gymnastics), Md. Kanchon Ali (boxing), Md. Ashraf Ali (wrestling), Helena Khan Eva (volleyball), Khaled Masud Pilot (cricket), Robiul Islam (bodybuilding), Jumman Lusai (hockey, posthumously), Kutubuddin Mohammad Aksir (organiser), Ashikur Rahman Miku (organiser) and Saheed Sheikh Kamal (athletics and organiser, posthumously).The recipients of national sports award for 2012 are: Shakib Al Hasan (cricket), Md. Mohsin (football), Khurshid Babul (football), Ashish Bhadra (football), Abdul Gaffar (football), Sattyajit Das Rupu (football), Firoza Khatun (athletics), Nazia Akter Juthi (badminton), Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal (organiser), Mamunur Rashid (hockey), Salma Rafique (organiser, posthumously) and Nurul Alam Chowdhury (organiser).
