DHAKA, June 4, 2026 (BSS) - The government has formed a five-member committee comprising prominent sports personalities and professionals to eliminate discrimination against women athletes and ensure their safety, rights and empowerment in sports.

The information was disclosed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Former national Table Tennis player and National Sports Award recipient Zobera Rahman Linu has been made the convener of the committee.

Other members are: Member of Parliament from a reserved women's seat Farida Yasmin, President of the Bangladesh Women Sports Association Sarwat Siraj (Shukla), Professor Nasrin Sultana of the Institute of Health Economics at the University of Dhaka, and Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Umme Israt.

According to the order, the committee's key objectives include formulating strategies for the protection, safety, participation, development and advancement of women's talent in sports; taking initiatives to ensure women's participation and leadership in the sports sector; and providing training and necessary institutional and legal support for promising female athletes emerging from the grassroots level.

The committee will also work to ensure athletes' health, nutrition and mental well-being, address investment gaps in women's sports to establish equal financial benefits, promote sports as an effective means of women's rights and empowerment, and eliminate discrimination against women in sports while ensuring protection, safety and equality.

As per the government decision, the committee will submit written progress reports to the government every two months. It will also have the authority to co-opt experts as members if required for specific issues.