Women's hockey receives further BRAC Bank boost

Bangladesh women's hockey is set to receive a further boost after BRAC Bank committed Tk 2 crore towards the development of the women's game in partnership with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF).

The investment expands the "BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Women Hockey Development Programme", which was launched last year with an initial contribution of Tk 1 crore. The latest initiative aims to provide professional training, scholarships and competitive opportunities to more than 500 female players from across the country.

The programme will focus on identifying talent at the grassroots level while creating a structured pathway for players to progress to elite competition. District-level coaching, specialised goalkeeper training and scholarship opportunities for promising athletes are among the key components of the project.

The agreement was signed at BRAC Bank's head office in Dhaka on Monday in the presence of officials from both organisations.

BHF general secretary Lt Col Riazul Hasan (Retd) said continued investment at the grassroots level would be important for sustaining the growth of women's hockey and improving the competitiveness of the national team.

The expanded programme is expected to run throughout the year before culminating in the BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Nari Hockey Tournament 2026, which will provide a national platform for emerging players to showcase their abilities.