sport
Youth Sports Spotlight: Community Matches and Local Leagues Continue Across Dhaka Fields This Week
Ongoing informal games and club activities in neighbourhoods like Dhanmondi and Mirpur keep youth participation steady while stadium upgrades move forward.
How we reported this
Community-based team sports remain active this week in Dhaka through informal neighbourhood games and organised leagues, supported by longstanding local venues and clubs. Informal para games on public fields stay entirely free and open for participation without registration, allowing young players in areas such as Dhanmondi around Dhanmondi Lake and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to continue regular play.
Local Clubs Sustain Weekly Participation
Gulshan Youth Club, Banani Club and Uttara Club provide facilities for tennis, swimming, cricket and football alongside community events that draw youth participants. The semi-professional community-driven FC Mobile league known as the Dhaka 1 League operates with elite players and regular tournaments, serving as a key e-sports platform for organised competition in the city.
These activities take place alongside broader infrastructure developments that the Ministry of Youth and Sports is advancing, including plans to reclaim illegally occupied playgrounds in Dhaka and develop a sports village project. Three stadiums, including the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, are being handed over to the Bangladesh Football Federation to reach FIFA-standard levels, while the National Stadium has completed its major renovation with individual seating, a new pitch and modern athletics track.
Funding and Future Facilities
The national budget for 2025-26 allocated Tk 2,423 crore for youth and sports development, covering projects such as Phase 2 mini-stadium construction and upazila-level sports complexes. The Sheikh Kamal Sports Complex in Dhanmondi remains under construction and is expected to become the second-largest sports complex in Bangladesh, with grounds for multiple sports upon completion.
Residents interested in joining can explore free neighbourhood fields in Mirpur or Bashundhara Residential Area for casual play, or contact established clubs such as Gulshan Youth Club for structured options that range from BDT 500 to BDT 3,000 or more per month depending on the sport and amenities. The Ministry of Youth and Sports continues work on additional sports hubs across divisions including Dhaka, using reclaimed land in Gulshan for federation offices and facilities.