Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu has announced a grand plan to restore the lost glory of Rajshahi's sports arena. He expressed his commitment to revitalize sports in the region through multifaceted sports development and the organization of new tournaments at district and divisional levels. The Land Minister made these announcements as the chief guest at the grand final and prize-giving ceremony of the Deputy Commissioner Gold Cup Football Tournament at Rajshahi Liberation War Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon (September 5, 2026), which has infused new hope among sports enthusiasts in Rajshahi.
In his speech, Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu highlighted the social importance of sports, stating that there is no alternative to sports in keeping the new generation away from drug addiction, mobile addiction, and various social ills. The role of sports practice in the full development of youth talent and creativity is immense. For this reason, the government will undertake various innovative initiatives to make Rajshahi's sports sector more dynamic. Addressing the players, he said that winning and losing in sports is a natural occurrence, but the biggest victory will be for Rajshahi and, overall, for the region's sports arena.
The Minister further noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself is a sports enthusiast and is giving special importance to bringing players back to the field to invigorate the country's sports arena. One of the government's primary goals is to ensure that the new generation, who will lead the country in the future, can develop their talents free from drug addiction, mobile addiction, and other social ills. To achieve this goal, the development of the sports sector is being given the highest priority.
The Land Minister also placed special emphasis on the development of the Rajshahi Liberation War Memorial Stadium. He announced that all necessary state-level initiatives would be taken for the infrastructural development and field renovation of this traditional and ancient stadium in Rajshahi, as well as to quickly reactivate its floodlights. There are also plans to host major tournaments in the future at this stadium, involving national and international football teams, along with several national cricket teams from the country. He expressed hope that through these initiatives, Rajshahi would secure a more prominent place on the national and international sports map.
Regarding the poor condition of the city's playgrounds, the Minister stated that Rajshahi Metropolitan Area has approximately 16 small and large fields, many of which have become unsuitable for sports due to a lack of renovation over a long period. Under the initiative of Rajshahi City Corporation, these fields will be quickly renovated and developed into beautiful, green, and playable grounds. Additionally, he announced the organization of tournaments in various educational institutions to further invigorate Rajshahi's sports sector. Notably, this includes the 'Bir Shrestha Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Volleyball Gold Cup Tournament' in colleges and schools across Rajshahi city, and the future organization of other important tournaments, including the 'Prime Minister Gold Cup'.
At the event, Mohonpur Upazila team became the champion of the Deputy Commissioner Gold Cup Football Tournament, defeating Durgapur Upazila team 3-2 in a tie-breaker in the final match. At the final and prize-giving ceremony of this tournament, which began on August 22, the Land Minister conveyed sincere thanks and gratitude to the audience on behalf of the Prime Minister. Palash of Durgapur Upazila team received the top scorer award, while Jubayer from the same team was named the best player of the final match. Badal of Mohonpur Upazila team was awarded the best player of the tournament, and Abu Raihan, also from Mohonpur Upazila team, received the best goalkeeper award.
Presiding over the event was Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, with special guests including Advocate Mohammad Shafiqul Haque Milon, Member of Parliament for Rajshahi-3 constituency; Professor Nazrul Islam, Member of Parliament for Rajshahi-5 constituency; Mahbuba Habiba, Member of Parliament for the reserved women's seat; Divisional Commissioner Md. Yusuf Ali; RMP Commissioner Mohammad Faizul Kabir; and Superintendent of Police Md. Mamun Or Rashid. Also present were officials and employees from various government and private departments, local political leaders, players, spectators, dignitaries, and media personnel, all of whom underscored the importance and breadth of the event.
The Land Minister's announcement has generated widespread enthusiasm in Rajshahi's sports community. It is hoped that through the implementation of these multifaceted plans, Rajshahi will regain its lost sporting glory, and the younger generation will be encouraged to engage in healthy and constructive activities. This goodwill and planning by the government will contribute to building a strong sports infrastructure for the future, which will also have a positive impact on the overall development of sports in the country.
