Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday hoped to see Bangladeshi boys and girls play World Cup Football one day.

“Now the World Cup is being held. But we have no position in football. It hurts me. Our boys and girls will qualify to play in the world’s biggest football tournament, she hoped.

About holding nationwide inert-school, inter-college and inter-university sports competitions, she said now children are blossoming through the competitions.

"Our boys and girls will sprout further through competitions - I think we can make more progress in sports on the world stage by taking part in the competitions," she added.

The Youth and Sports Ministry organised the 3rd edition of the sports competition with some 6,950 participants, including 1,850 females from the country’s 125 public and private universities under 12 events.

Referring to the success of women in the SAAF and Asian games in both football and cricket, Hasina said the girls are doing very well on the international stage and hoped that the boys will do the same.

The Prime Minister said her government has already established a stadium at the district level and is now building a mini stadium at every upazila across the country to create scopes for holding competitions.

She said her government has taken an initiative to build BKSP in every eight divisions to train the sportsmen properly.

She said the government has attached priority to training following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Bangabandhu sent Bangladeshi players to Germany, India and other countries for training.

Different sports competitions have been introduced from primary school to university level in the country. Due to these competitions, Bangladesh would be able to perform better in world sports, she hoped.

 The Prime Minister said her government has taken initiatives for the overall development of sports after assuming office as the sports and competitions alongside cultural practices are showing the youths choosing the right paths shunning the ways of drug, militancy and terrorism.

"We don't want drugs, militancy or terrorism. We believe in peace, development and progress. I know the government's support is always needed for education and sports and cultural practices."

Describing Bangladeshi children as very talented ones, she said if they even get a little scope, they can turn impossible into possible.

She described herself as a member of a sports-loving family as her grandfather Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, his younger brother, and her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were footballers and two brothers-- Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Kamal, sisters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parvin Jamal were sportsmen.

Being a sports-loving family, the premier said they would extend every possible support for the development of sports.

Some 720 medals were distributed among the best performers in the 12 events including football, cricket, athletics, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and badminton, kabaddi and chess.

Daffodil International University has become the champion university in the 3rd edition of the competition, while Dhaka University won the fair play award.

Daffodil International University has become the champion in the 3rd edition of the competition, while Dhaka University won the fair play award.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel presided over the function, while Youth and Sports Secretary Mesbah Uddin gave the address of welcome.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul