DHAKA, Oct 21, 2023 (BSS) - The national phase game of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Inter-College Football Tournament began today at Mohammadpur Govt. Physical Education College ground in the city.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Mohammad Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, formally inaugurated the meet as the chief guest.

Youth and Sports Secretary Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed presided over the opening ceremony of the competition, which is being held with the cooperation of Department of Sports under the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Ministry's Additional Secretary Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Director of Sports Department ANM Toriqul Islam, former national footballers Md. Abdul Ghaffar, Sheikh Md. Aslam and Khandaker Rakibul Islam were also present on the occasion.

Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, the state minister said the ministry launched the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Under-17 Football Tournament for the first time in the tenure of the current government in 2018 and organized the Bangabandhu Inter-University Sports Championship with the students of all the public and private universities of the country.
 
He said in continuation of this, initiative has been taken to organize Bangabandhu Inter-College Football Tournament. Nationwide Bangamata Intercollegiate Football tournament for boys' as well as girls' would be introduced from next year.

Russel said advanced training would be conducted in the country and abroad with the best selected from all these tournaments.

On the first day of the meet, Adamji Cantonment College of Dhaka division team beat Bhatara Higher Secondary School of Jamalpur district 3-0 goals.

Atiq Shahriar scored two goals and Sabbir Hossain Mollah netted the other one goal for the winning side.

In the day's second match, Krishnagobindpur Degree College of Chapainawabganj district confirmed the quarter final spot beating Fenchuganj Government College 3-2 goals in penalty shootout after the regulation time ended goalless draw.

Earlier, 15912 contestants from 884 colleges participated in this higher secondary level competition. The best two teams of the district level got the opportunity to participate in the divisional competition.

A total of 2304 players from 128 colleges participated in the divisional phase and sixteen teams including the champions and runners-up teams from each division are taking part in the national phase.