Within the government's array of ministries, the sports ministry often receives one of the smallest budget allocations. Despite increases in many other areas, the sports budget has consistently been overlooked. This financial year, the Ministry of Youth and Sports' budget has been slashed by approximately 20 per cent compared to the previous year. Moreover, the lion's share of this sector's funding is channelled into infrastructure development, leaving little for the regular competitions that are essential for nurturing grassroots talent.
Abdur Raqib Montu, the general secretary of the Athletics Federation, remarked that many promising athletes hail from middle-class or lower-middle-class backgrounds. He believes that with adequate support for their families, these children need not fall by the wayside.
Ashiqur Rahman Miku, the general secretary of the Volleyball Federation, expressed his struggles with organising youth volleyball competitions due to financial constraints, which also led to the cancellation of a school volleyball tournament.
For the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Youth and Sports was allocated 1,300 crore, which is less than 0.2 percent of the total budget. Only a third of this is dedicated to sports, with the remainder earmarked for youth initiatives. This modest sum must stretch to cover the activities of 58 federations.
The National Sports Council (NSC) remains optimistic, however, stating that the completion of the Sheikh Russell mini stadium project at the upazila level will address many ground-related issues. Additionally, plans are underway to renovate 8 district stadiums in the coming financial year, which will include turf for athletics and 11 potential sports academies.
Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, the general secretary of the Handball Federation, pointed out that the funds available are paltry when it comes to player support, team formation, training, or international competition.
Shamsul Alam, the director of planning and development at the NSC, highlighted that over Tk 500 crore is being invested with the goal of promoting various sports nationwide.
Mahbub Morshed Sohail, the project director of the Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium, asserts that each upazila will soon boast a dedicated facility open to all. Nonetheless, experts in the field argue that addressing infrastructural issues alone will not suffice to achieve success in sports.
They advocate for a dual focus on talent recruitment and the implementation of a long-term strategic plan, supported by a substantial budget.
