171 more athletes added to national payroll, total reaches 300

The Youth and Sports Ministry today added 171 more athletes to the national payroll.

This takes the total number of athletes receiving government support to 300 under the ongoing initiative aimed at ensuring financial stability for sports professionals.

The announcement was made at the National Sports Council (NSC) auditorium by State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, as part of the government’s broader plan to professionalise sports under the theme: “Krira Hole Pesha, Paribar Pabe Bharosha” (When sports become a profession, families gain security).

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had earlier inaugurated the sports allowance and sports card programme on March 30 at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. At the launch, the first batch of 129 athletes was placed under a monthly stipend of Tk 1 lakh each.

Today’s inclusion covers athletes from 18 sporting disciplines, including football (36 male and female players combined), hockey (36), volleyball (14), chess (11), archery (11), weightlifting (10), handball (10), gymnastics (9), swimming (6), table tennis (5), shooting (5), cycling (4), wushu (4), judo (3), kickboxing (2), bodybuilding (2) and triathlon (1).

According to NSC officials, while the initial plan targeted 500 athletes, the government has revised the rollout to include 300 athletes within the current fiscal year. The remaining 200 athletes are expected to be brought under the scheme in the next fiscal year.

Several overseas-based footballers, including Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Zayyan Ahmed, Fahamedul Islam and Tariq Raihan Kazi, have not been included in the current list. However, 18 members each from the national men’s and women’s football teams have been accommodated, along with previously included players from the women’s futsal squad.

Notably, the women’s national hockey team--set to compete internationally for the first time--has also been incorporated into the payroll system. The chess contingent features prominent names from GM Niaz Murshed to WIM Rani Hamid, forming an 11-member list.