Bangladesh Announces New Para Sports Complex and Expanded Athlete Allowances

• The Bangladesh government has launched major initiatives to support para-athletes, including the construction of a dedicated sports complex and an expansion of financial aid.
• State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque emphasized shifting societal attitudes from stigma to pride regarding athletes with special needs.

Financial and Grassroots Support

• The government is expanding its sports allowance scheme, adding 200 new beneficiaries to the existing 300, for a total of 500 athletes.
• Future international gold medalists or high-achievers will be automatically included in the allowance program.
• A new national talent identification competition, "Notun Kuri Para Sports," will be launched across all 64 districts to discover athletes at the grassroots level.

Infrastructure and Training

• Government plans include transforming the Mirpur Stadium area in Dhaka into a comprehensive "Sports Hub" to improve training conditions.
• Officials are currently expediting plans for a state-of-the-art, purpose-built Para Sports Complex.
• The strategy aims to provide year-round training facilities rather than focusing solely on short-term preparations before international competitions.