Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged the nation's professional athletes to remain strictly non-political, calling on them to prioritize their sporting careers and represent the country through excellence rather than political affiliation.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 'Sports Card' and allowance distribution programme at his Tejgaon office, the Premier emphasized the need for athletes to maintain a professional identity.

“In your professional sporting careers, you should not belong to any political party or group; rather, represent the country through your sporting excellence,” he stated.

He encouraged players to achieve global success and uphold the nation's dignity, adding, “I believe that if you have love for the country, strong determination and team spirit, no one will be able to hinder your successful journey.”

The Prime Minister underscored that sports have evolved beyond a mere hobby or exercise into a globally recognized profession.

“Just as accounting, engineering and the legal field are professions, sports is also becoming a profession. Bangladesh will not fall behind,” he remarked.

To support this transition, the government has begun bringing players under a structured salary system.

“To ensure that a player who takes up sports as a profession does not suffer from financial uncertainty or hardship for themselves and their families, the current government has started bringing players under a salary structure based on a specific policy,” he explained.

During the event, the Prime Minister formally launched the initiative by transferring BDT 100,000 to each of the 129 initial athletes via Sonali Bank’s online system.

He also distributed sports cards and honored those who achieved international success. He noted that the programme is unique because it rewards merit and non-political achievement.

Discussing the nature of competition, he observed that defeat is a stepping stone to success, quoting Albert Einstein: “A person who has never failed has never tried anything new.”

The Premier outlined a comprehensive vision for the sector, including short, medium, and long-term plans.

He announced that sports would become compulsory in the education curriculum from Class IV to foster talent from an early age, a task the Education Ministry has already begun.

Furthermore, he announced the nationwide launch of the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ talent hunt, beginning in Sylhet on April 30, modeled after the talent discovery programme first launched in 1976.

Expanding on the government's broader social welfare efforts, the Prime Minister mentioned the upcoming launch of the ‘Farmer Card’ on April 14, alongside existing initiatives like family cards, allowances for religious leaders, and canal excavation projects.

He specifically noted that athletes with physical disabilities and those from underprivileged backgrounds would be included under the theme ‘Sports for All.’

While acknowledging the popularity of cricket and football, he highlighted the potential of disciplines such as archery, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, karate, and the SAFF-winning women’s futsal team to bring international glory if provided with proper state support.