Sports Best Way to Protect Youth from Drugs, Says President

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said sports were one of the most effective ways to protect young people from drug abuse, mobile phone addiction and frustration.

“Sports teach young people discipline, perseverance and self-confidence,” he said while inaugurating the Arafat Rahman Koko 18th National Summer Athletics Competition 2026 at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

The president formally inaugurated the competition by releasing balloons and festoons.

He stressed the need to expand sports facilities and ensure access to playgrounds to protect young people from destructive influences and build a healthy nation.

“Athletics is known as the mother of sports. It tests an athlete’s speed, strength, agility, discipline and endurance. Strengthening this foundation will also help improve the country’s performance in other sports,” he said.

Describing sports as a source of national pride and unity, Mirza Fakhrul said seeing Bangladesh’s flag fly on the international stage and hearing the national anthem played at victory ceremonies were moments of immense pride for the nation.

“At such moments, we have only one identity: we are Bangladeshis,” he said.

The president emphasised the need to develop homegrown athletes and ensure that Bangladesh’s teams achieve success on the international stage.

He also called for equal opportunities for female athletes to make sports more inclusive and meaningful.

Stressing the importance of grassroots development, he urged the authorities to organise competitions regularly at school, college, district and upazila levels so that talented athletes were not deprived of opportunities because of financial constraints.

He also called on industrial enterprises, banks, insurance companies and business organisations to work alongside the government and provide long-term sponsorship to help develop world-class athletes.

Highlighting government initiatives to advance sports, the president said programmes were being implemented to introduce sports cards and allowances, identify talent at the grassroots level, establish modern sports villages in districts and build playgrounds in every union.

“A new wave of enthusiasm has emerged in the country’s sports arena. The prime minister is playing an important role in promoting sports at the grassroots level,” he said.

The president also urged the authorities concerned to reclaim illegally occupied playgrounds, preserve existing sports facilities and identify suitable locations for new playgrounds.

Expressing optimism about the future of Bangladeshi athletics, he said the competition would help discover talented athletes who could bring further glory to the country on the international stage.

The competition was dedicated to the memory of renowned sports organiser Arafat Rahman Koko. The president prayed for the eternal peace of his soul and formally inaugurated the event.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque attended the ceremony as a special guest. Bangladesh Athletics Federation General Secretary Ali Imam Tapan delivered the welcome address, while the federation’s president, Mohammad Abdullah Zaber, chaired the programme.

Earlier, 57 participating teams took part in a march-past. The competition’s theme song was performed, and veteran athletes Mohiuddin Ahmed and Sumita Rani Das lit the ceremonial torch.