A nationwide sports talent hunt programme titled “Notun Kuri Sports” has been launched across Bangladesh to identify promising young athletes from grassroots communities and develop them into future national sports stars, reports BSS.
Officials said the initiative has already generated widespread enthusiasm by creating an organised platform to nurture hidden sporting talent from remote and underserved areas of the country.
Inspired by the popular “Notun Kuri” talent programme of the 1980s, the project aims to build a long-term pipeline of skilled athletes capable of representing Bangladesh at national and international levels.
The programme was officially inaugurated on May 2 at Sylhet District Stadium by Tarique Rahman, who joined as chief guest. Thousands of participants from district stadiums and other venues across the country also joined the launch virtually.
Organised under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the initiative is being implemented by the Department of Sports, with district and upazila sports offices coordinating local activities.
The programme focuses on identifying and developing sporting talent among children aged between 12 and 14 while encouraging them to continue their academic education alongside sports training.
Officials said sports play a crucial role in building a healthy, disciplined and confident generation while also promoting teamwork, leadership and social development.
“Notun Kuri Sports” includes competitions in eight disciplines — cricket, football, kabaddi, athletics, chess, badminton, swimming and martial arts.
According to programme data, 160,779 adolescents registered online between April 12 and 17, including 116,646 boys and 44,133 girls. Sylhet recorded the highest number of applicants, followed by Chattogram and Dhaka.
Mymensingh District Sports Officer Al Amin said upazila-level team formation has already been completed, while regional and divisional competitions are being held from May 13 to 22.
The ministry said selected participants will receive jerseys at the district level and certificates at every stage of the competition. Athletes will also receive government-approved allowances to encourage participation.
Top performers at the national level will be offered long-term residential training and advanced professional coaching opportunities. Talented athletes will also have the opportunity to gain admission to Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP).
State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Islam said finalists would receive special sports scholarships alongside opportunities for admission to BKSP.
He added that the government has initiated steps to modernise regional BKSP centres, including facilities in Chattogram, in an effort to reduce pressure on the Dhaka campus.
The minister also assured that transparency would be maintained throughout the selection process and that medical teams would remain available around the clock to ensure participants’ safety and wellbeing.
Sports stakeholders described the programme as more than a competition, saying it has the potential to reshape Bangladesh’s sporting culture by creating a sustainable grassroots development system.
SM Abdullah Al Fuad, a member of the Jamalpur District Sports Association, said the initiative has generated fresh enthusiasm in the country’s sports sector and could strengthen Bangladesh’s international sporting performance in the future.
Local lawmaker Abu Wahab Akand Wahid said the programme would provide young athletes with opportunities to showcase their abilities and emerge as future representatives of Bangladesh on the global sporting stage.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
