Sports State Minister orders urgent overhaul of Kamalapur Stadium

 
The State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the dilapidated condition and chronic mismanagement of Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, Dhaka on Sunday. 

Following an inspection in the afternoon, the State Minister briefed reporters, describing a venue in alarming disrepair.

 Touring various sections of the ground, he noted glaring deficiencies in maintenance and security arrangements.

According to the minister, the stadium is currently left vulnerable and has, at times, become a haven for drug-related activities. He also referred to incidents involving the theft of highly valuable floodlight components and blast equipment, raising serious concerns about oversight and asset protection.

In light of what he termed clear negligence by officials and security personnel on duty, Aminul Haque instructed the Executive Director of the National Sports Council (NSC) to initiate punitive transfers against those found responsible.

The inspection further revealed dressing rooms and internal facilities unfit for competitive sport. The minister criticised the presence of makeshift tin-shed structures erected by staff within the premises, stating that such arrangements were incompatible with the standards expected of an international venue. "We will, in the quickest possible time, hand over renovation responsibilities to Bangladesh Football Federation," he said.

He added that refurbishment would be undertaken through funding support from FIFA, signalling a pathway towards restoring the stadium's infrastructure and operational integrity. To reinforce security, the State Ministry plans to raise the boundary walls, install barbed-wire fencing and coordinate with nearby Mugda Police Station for round-the-clock patrols.

The State Minister concluded with a commitment to return the Kamalapur ground to a condition befitting professional athletes, underscoring that a nation's sporting ambitions must rest upon facilities worthy of its players' endeavour and pride.