The first phase of the Sylhet district-level ‘BRAC Bank Aparajeyo Alo Women’s Hockey Development Programme 2026’ will be formally inaugurated today at 4pm, as part of a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying and developing promising female hockey players.
Organised by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation and sponsored by BRAC Bank, the development programme is being conducted across seven districts of Bangladesh. Its central objective is to identify talented players at grassroots level and provide them with structured training opportunities so that they can develop the skills required to compete at higher levels.
In Sylhet, 25 promising young female hockey players have been selected from four leading educational institutions to take part in the special training camp. The participating institutions are Ambarkhana Girls’ School and College, Sylhet Government High School at Lakkatura, Sylhet Cantonment Public School and College, and Government Agragami Girls’ High School and College.
The selection of players through educational institutions reflects the programme’s focus on strengthening the grassroots pathway for women’s hockey. Schools and colleges have traditionally played an important role in introducing young athletes to organised sport, while district-level training can provide a more structured route for those showing particular potential.
The opening ceremony will be attended by senior representatives from the district administration, the banking sector and the national hockey governing body. Sylhet District Commissioner and District Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun is scheduled to attend as the chief guest.
Among the special guests will be Rezaur Rahman, Regional Manager of BRAC Bank in Sylhet; Nazirul Islam Nazu, an executive member of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation; and Tariquzzaman Nannu, secretary of the federation’s Women’s Wing. Leading figures from the local sporting community are also expected to attend the event.
The initiative comes at a time when developing a sustainable pipeline of female athletes remains an important priority for women’s sport in Bangladesh. For hockey in particular, regular training at school and district level can help young players build technical ability and gain experience before progressing towards more competitive stages.
Under the nationwide programme, selected players are being brought into a dedicated development environment with the aim of improving their abilities and nurturing potential talent from an early age. The organisers hope that sustained grassroots investment will help create a stronger base of female hockey players and encourage more young women to take up the sport.
The Sylhet camp is therefore being viewed not simply as a short-term training activity, but as part of a broader effort to expand opportunities for girls in hockey. The participation of 25 players from four educational institutions also provides a platform for local talent to receive focused attention and develop through organised coaching.
Officials and organisers involved in the initiative have expressed hope that the programme will contribute to a renewed interest in women’s hockey and encourage more young athletes to become involved in competitive sport.
With similar activities being conducted in seven districts, the organisers expect the initiative to play a role in identifying players who could eventually contribute to the development of Bangladesh’s women’s hockey. For the participants in Sylhet, the opening of the training camp marks an important opportunity to develop their skills and take another step towards a more competitive sporting career.
