Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is taking significant steps to enhance recreational opportunities in the urban landscape of Chattogram. The organization has proposed to construct 20 futsal courts across its 41 administrative wards, with an investment of Taka 49 crore. This initiative aims to address the pressing issue of limited play areas in the city, which has been exacerbated by unplanned urbanization.
The project development proposal was submitted to the sports ministry last week for approval. CCC's goal is to revive childhood experiences that have been confined to brick and wood, allowing them to flourish in the realm of sports. This initiative is part of a broader project titled 'Expansion of Modern Urban Sports Facilities and Construction of Futsal Courts in Chattogram City'.
Due to unplanned urbanization, numerous playgrounds and open spaces have vanished from Chattogram, leading to a childhood spent within four walls and often resulting in addiction to mobile devices and the internet. Additionally, many youths are falling into drug addiction, which poses a significant threat to their physical and mental development and social security. The government is implementing a plan to address the shortage of playgrounds in both urban and rural areas nationwide.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken steps to establish futsal facilities. The most recent meeting regarding this matter took place in the Cabinet Division on August 24, where city corporations across the country were urged to swiftly prepare and submit projects for futsal construction. In response, CCC has embraced the 'Modern Urban Sports Facilities Expansion and Futsal Field Construction Project in Chattogram City'.
Following final approval, the Ministry of Finance will provide the necessary funding for the project's execution. Futsal is considered timely due to the acute shortage of available space in various city wards. Futsal courts are space-efficient and can be utilized year-round, making them an effective means to engage young individuals in sports activities within limited spaces. This approach has already proven successful in numerous densely populated cities globally.
City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain emphasized the importance of sports in preventing youth from falling into negative activities such as gangs, murder, corruption, and drug addiction. He announced plans to construct 41 playgrounds across the 41 wards and to renovate the fields of various educational institutions and organizations. Work is currently in progress on several fields, including the renovation of the Mohsin College field in the city.
CCC Secretary Md. Ashraful Amin informed that during a Cabinet Division meeting, they were instructed to promptly submit a project proposal for futsal construction. A project for the establishment of 20 futsal facilities has been submitted as a pilot initiative. A separate project will be developed for playground construction in each ward, ensuring that in areas with insufficient space, at least one playground will be established between two wards. This initiative aims to foster a sports-friendly, healthy, and livable city in the long term.
