Plan to make sports disciplines mandatory at school level: Aminul Haque

After being sworn in as the State Minister for Youth and Sports on Tuesday, former national football team captain Aminul Haque appeared before the media at his residence in Mirpur to outline the immediate and long-term sports plans of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government.

Aminul, regarded as one of the safest pairs of hands in Bangladesh football, assumed office under the technocrat quota after weeks of speculation, although he narrowly lost in the Dhaka-16 constituency in the national elections held on February 12.

Hailing from Bhola and raised in Mirpur, Aminul began his top-flight career with Mohammedan Sporting Club, initially serving as third-choice goalkeeper behind the experienced Saeed Hasan Kanan. He made his international debut in 1998 in a friendly against Qatar and represented Bangladesh until 2011, rarely losing his place.

The 45-year-old revealed his government’s plan to create a healthy environment in sports, maintain good relations with India, make sports mandatory from Grade 4 across the country, establish a sports industry, solve burning issues regarding cricket and cricketers, as well as corruption in sports and financial constraints of national sports bodies. Following are excerpts from the press briefing:

On sports environment: A distance among organisers, players and journalists has been created in past and we want to close that gaps to create a good relation among all sports stakeholders.

On sporting relations with India: Spoke to the Indian Deputy Commissioner in the parliament area soon after being sworn in and expressed desire to have a friendly relation with India and other neighbouring countries through diplomatic ways. Want to solve the problem with ICC as per ICC rules and regulations.

On overall sports plan: The government has a big plan to make five sports disciplines, including football and cricket, mandatory from Grade 4 at school level and appoint three sports teachers each for five disciplines and one sports officer in all 495 upazilas in the next one year and bring them under payroll.

On BCB, Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza: BCB polls have been questionable. Shakib and Mashrafe are legendary cricketers and their cases are should be dealt at the government level through discussion.

On corruption in sports: I maintain zero tolerance in corruption in sports and never allow corruption in sports.

On future of athletes: We will create jobs for athletes after their retirement, so that the athletes don’t have to think about their future during their playing career. We want to give utmost priority to athletes in order to make the financially solvent.

On politics and sports: It has been a long practice in sports, so it is not possible to depoliticise the sports overnight but I want to keep politics outside the purview of sports