Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities to establish at least one playground in every union across the country to ensure a healthy, safe and sports-friendly environment for children, adolescents and young people.

He also directed the authorities to establish at least 1,000 playgrounds across the country within the next two months.

The Prime Minister issued the directives at a meeting on establishing union-based playgrounds and expanding sports activities at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon.

At the meeting, he directed the Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation to ensure at least one playground for every two to three wards.

As part of the initiative, discussions were held on making 40 playgrounds in Dhaka North City Corporation and 90 in Dhaka South City Corporation suitable for sports and launching regular sporting activities there by December.

Emphasising the implementation of commitments made in the election manifesto, the Prime Minister directed the authorities to establish at least one playground in every union. 

He also stressed expanding access to sports facilities for the physical and mental development of the next generation and keeping the playgrounds open to all.

The meeting was informed that an initiative has been taken to establish playgrounds in all 4,599 unions across the country in phases. So far, 403 parcels of khas land have been identified in 27 districts for playgrounds.

Each playground is planned to have an area of between three and eight bighas. 

A decision has also been taken to appoint one sports officer in each upazila to ensure proper maintenance of the playgrounds and organise regular sporting activities.

Besides, a plan has been taken to involve around 1.4 million adolescents in 10 sporting events, including football, cricket, volleyball and badminton, at the union level.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the sports programme simultaneously in all 503 upazilas from Khulna on November 5.

The meeting also stressed making existing upazila stadiums operational and suitable for sports, recovering playgrounds that have been encroached upon, and introducing regular sports and sports-club activities in every school.

The Prime Minister directed the relevant ministries and agencies to work in a coordinated manner to preserve all playgrounds in the country, continue sports and cultural activities throughout the year, and build a healthy, safe and sports-friendly generation within the next five years.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam and Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Mahadi Amin attended the meeting.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque elaborated on the decisions taken at the meeting.