News Flash
DHAKA, April 25, 2025 (BSS) – “Our tour of Qatar with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus was like a dream,” said the four national women athletes, who accompanied the CA during his visit to the oil-rich Gulf state.
During the tour, the four athletes visited several places in Qatar, including the Qatar Football Stadium and the Olympic Museum. The female athletes also gave Qatar Foundation officials their ideas about the country's cricket and football.
Bangladesh national women’s football team captain Afida Khandaker, footballer Shaheda Akter Ripa, cricketers Sumaiya Akter and Sharmin Sultana, who visited Qatar as members of CA’s entourage recently, shared their experiences with journalists at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy this afternoon.
Afida Khandaker said, “We are very happy that four of us went to Qatar as a tour group with the Chief Advisor Sir. Four of us from the sports field of Bangladesh got the opportunity to go there. This is a big achievement for us.”
“We have been able to showcase our country's football, cricket, and other sports to Qatar. They have promised to work with us and assured us of all kinds of cooperation,” she added.
Qatar Foundation CEO Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani also promised to increase opportunities for Bangladeshi female players in a meeting with the Chief Advisor on the sidelines of the Arthana Conference in Doha.
Qatar is famous for football. They don’t have much idea about cricket. Cricket is taught at the school level in Qatar, but two cricketers, Sumaiya Akter and Sharmin Sultana, introduced the idea of ??cricket to the Qatar Foundation CEO.
In this regard, Sharmin Sultana said: "Actually, cricket is not popular there.
They have little idea about cricket. After listening to us, they became interested in cricket. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani informed us that they have planned to start cricket. They have already started playing cricket at school level. They are now thinking about going to the next level and to play at the international level. They were very excited about it.”
Cricketer Sumaiya Akter said they have got different facility as members of the Chief Advisor’s entourage and spent a very busy time there.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, who was present in the press conference, said that the visit of the four athletes to Qatar has got a different dimension.
"We think that it has taken on a different dimension through the visit of the four athletes to Qatar. Usually, there are bilateral discussions during official visit but this time various issues were discussed there as well," Azad said.
“If the athletes had not gone this time, there would have been no discussion about sports. Our athletes have been able to create a special interest in them during the visit and discussions have begun about them,” he added.
The Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary said: “We think this is a beginning. The Chief Advisor himself has spoken directly to the sports officials in Qatar. Qatar Foundation is a big factor for sports. They have investments in many areas of sports around the world and we believe that this visit has established a connection with them. With the continuation of this communication, we’ll receive much important cooperation in the field of sports in the future.”
