Former cricketer and coach Arifa Jahan Bithi believes the youth festival can unite the nation in more inclusive way to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh.
With the theme of 'Let's change the country, let's change the world', the youth festival, which kicked off during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), is being held in the country.
'It's a good initiative to unite the nation. As we want to build a discrimination free country, the government has taken a timely initiative to materialize it through this youth festival," said Bithi, the owner of Women's dreamers' cricket academy in Rangpur.
For the first time, she has established an academy, exclusively for the Women cricketers. "We all know sports can unite the whole nation. We have seen it in the past. I hope through the youth festival, this will be proved again," she said.
Bithi was dismissed from her post for helping the student protestors and the family of martyr Abu Sayed who was killed in police firing during student-led mass movement on July 16.
She was then contracted as manager of the Rangpur Division Women's cricket team.
Sayed's martyrdom sparked the movement and he became the symbol of the July-August uprising, that toppled autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.
During the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Bithi helped the student protestors with biscuits and snacks.
Bithi was reinstated as manager after the fall of the Awami League government.
"Apart from running the academy to produce cricketers for Bangladesh Women's team, I am actively involved in helping the people who suffered during the mass movement," Bithi said.
"Many people sacrificed their lives and many got injured. I am personally trying to reach them and help them financially. I built various shops for them so that they can overcome their financial problems. I think the youth festival also can be a stepping stone to change their fate," she added. —BSS
