After cricket and football, different sports federations are gearing up to celebrate the Festival of Youth-2025.
The festival is being held with the theme of 'Let's change the country, Let's change the World" to unite the nation.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and under the overall supervision of the Chief Adviser's Office, the official journey of Festival of Youth in collaboration with BPL-2025 began on December 30 last to promote sports among the youth through various communities.
Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, Bangladesh Athletics Federation, Bangladesh badminton Federation, Bangladesh Squash Federation, Bangladesh Hockey Federation, Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation, Bangladesh Cycling Federation, Bangladesh Swimming Federation and Bangladesh Archery Federation, Bangladesh Handball Federation and Bangladesh Women's Sports Association have taken initiative to celebrate the Festival of Youth with a huge enthusiasm.
Kabaddi
Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) will organize U-18 age group tournament (boys' and girls') with a large scale across the country during the Festival of Youth which will continue till February 19.
With the participation of boys and girls players, the kabaddi tournament will be initially organized at upazila (January 20-23), district (January 25-29), division (February 3-8) and finally at the national phase (February 12-18) in Dhaka.
SM Newaz Shohag, the general secretary of BKF talking to BSS, said it's a good initiative to take such kind of step by the government to build a new Bangladesh.
He said through this platform many sports federations would be benefited and a large numbers of players, especially from kabaddi, would come out from the grassroots level.
Shohag said they want to make the best use of the Festival of Youth because the way they are organising the age group tournament is like a haunting process and they have a plan to bring out talented players to groom up them for long-term intensive training.
Athletics
Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) will celebrate the Festival of Youth across the country.
The federation will organise Inter-District and Inter-Divisional Athletics competition in two phases. Initially Festival of Youth Inter-District Athletics competition will be held at eight divisional cities comprising of 64 districts from January 15-28.
While in the second phase, Festival of Youth Inter-Division Athletics competition will begin on February 7 at Bangabandhu National Stadium consisting of eight divisions.
BAF General Secretary Mohammad Shah Alam said Festival of Youth would play a vital role to revitalize the youth. It is also a noble initiative taken by the government.
"Actually we had a plan earlier to organise the age level tournament, as the Festival of Youth is being held so we have decided to insert the tournaments through this festival.
Archery
Bangladesh Archery Federation will celebrate the Festival of Youth across the country from January 15 to February 2. The federation's work plans included archery rally, voluntary blood donation, winter 'pithapuli', day-long exhibition, open archery competition and local cultural festival.
Hockey
Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Lt. Colonel Riazul Hasan (retd) said the intention to organize a five-aside tournament though the date of the competition has not been finalized yet.
Squash
Bangladesh Squash Federation (BSF) will celebrate the Festival of Youth by organizing workshop, women's league and coaching program.
BSF General Secretary Brigadier General GM Quamrul Islam (retd) said the federation would organize two-day workshop with the participation of boys and girls in this January and also in February.
He said the women's league would be held in the second week of February while a coaching course of the federation is currently running under the Pakistani coach.
Badminton
Bangladesh Badminton Federation General Secretary Md Alamgir Hossain informed that the federation would organize a U-19 badminton tournament with the participation of boys and girls from February 10-12 at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in the capital.
The federation general secretary thinks that good players would come out if the Festival of Youth can be kept continue.
Weightlifting
Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation (BWF) General Secretary Wing COMMANDER (retd) Mohiuddin Ahmed said BWF would organize a two-day U-17 boys and girls weightlifting competition from February 18-19 at weightlifting gymnasium.
Terming Festival of Youth a noble imitative by the government, the BWF general secretary said many talent players would enjoy this festival and there would be chance of coming out many good players.
Cycling
Bangladesh Cycling Federation General Secretary Taherul Alam Chowdhury Swapan said the federation have a plan to organize a day-long senior and junior cycling competition with the participation of boys and girls either Hatirjheel or 300 feet wide expressway in the capital.
He said that this initiative of celebrating the Festival of Youth should take long ago because the young society are going mispath, getting involved in various crimes and getting addicted in device. There would be many problems arise in the future if they are not involved in the Festival of Youth right now.
Swimming
Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) will organize water polo and diving competition from February 10-12 at Syed Nazrul Islam Complex in the city's Mirpur.
BSF General Secretary Salim Miah thinks that Festival of Youth would encourage the young society.
They (youth) would get interested in sports through this festival and a renascence would be created among them.
Handball
Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) General Secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor said they have plans to organise age level competition to celebrate the Festive of Youth though the plans are in primary stage.
"We have already sought fund to National Sports Council (NSC) to organaise competitions on occasion of Festival of Youth. If NSC approve the fund, then we'll organize competitions," said the BHF general secretary.
Kohinoor said Festival of Youth would have definitely a positive impact on sports, but it needs continuation.
Bangladesh Women's Sports Association (BWSA)
BWSA General Secretary Engineer Feroza Karim Neli said the association would organise basketball, cricket, inter-district kabaddi and volleyball competition next month on the occasion of Festival of Youth.
The BWSA general secretary said they also have planned to bring out rally, posturing on the wall, making banner, festoon distribution of leaflet at city's Dhanmondi area to celebrate the Festival of Youth. —BSS
