LALMANIRHAT, Nov 28, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today underscored the need for enhancing cultural practice and sports side by side with study.

"We will have to produce professional sportsman and artistes along with physicians, engineers or architects," he was addressing virtually a programme as the chief guest.

The programme was arranged marking the final match of the Shaheed Zia Smriti Football Tournament at Shaheed Abul Kashem High School, Barobari playground here with BNP organizing secretary (Rangpur) Asadul Habib Dulu in the chair.

 Tarique Rahman said if BNP is voted to power, they will put emphasis on sports and culture to build a happy and prosperous nation.

"We want to build a New Bangladesh with all regardless of the party and opinion. Ever people would be evaluated through their competence," he said.

"The countrymen have been freed from fascist. This is the time to build Bangladesh afresh. We have to be united to this end. We have given a 31-point demand in building the country," he said.

If elected, the BNP would play due role in building good cultural activists and players, he said, adding that they would develop players of international standards in the locally and internationally favorite sports.

"It is not enough to only create goo doctors and engineers. We have to groom up good politicians and BNP would do that," he said.

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, its Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, central leaders Farhad Hossain and Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan also spoke.

On November 12, Shaheed Zia Smriti Football Tournament began at Shaheed Abul Kashem High School, Barobari playground here. Ten organizational teams of BNP of Rangpur division contested the tournament.

Panchagarh BNP XI and Rangpur City BNP XI contested the final match.
Panchagarh won the match in penalties.