Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government is taking measures for further development of the country’s football. 

‘Football is a popular game. We’re taking measures to improve this game further. We’re constructing one mini-stadium in each upazila so that our children can always practise,’ she said, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a trophy and prize-distribution ceremony arranged for the winners of Bangabandhu Gold Cup and Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournaments-2018 at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

She said, ‘We want the country’s children to take part in sports and cultural activities to keep themselves mentally sound, attain physical fitness and learn discipline.’

Hasina said Bangladesh set an example in the world history by arranging such big tournaments.

She mentioned that some 11,18,515 boys of 65,790 schools participated in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament, 2018 while 11,16,900 girls of 65,700 schools took part in the Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament-2018.

Earlier, the Prime Minister witnessed the final match of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup sitting at the VIP Lounge of Bangabandhu Stadium.

In the final of the Bangamata Gold Cup, Pachrukhi Government Primary School (Nandail) of Mymensingh Division beat Tepurgari BK Government Primary School, Lalmonirhat of Rangpur Division.

In the Bangabandhu Gold Cup final, Horipur Government Primary School, Joyentapur of Sylhet division beat Dokkhin Kanialkhatha Government Primary School, Nilphamari of Rangpur Division.

The grand finals of Bangabandhu Gold Cup and Bangamata Gold Cup were held at 1:30pm and 3:30pm respectively at the stadium.

The Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School football tournament began its journey in 2010, while Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup in 2011.

The two tournaments were held at unions, upazilas, districts and divisional phases and finally concluded at national phase through final matches.

The Primary and Mass Education Ministry arranged the two tournaments.