LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke as the chief guest at an event held on Sunday at Shaheed Farhan Faiyaz Playground in the capital. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 19, 2026 (BSS) - LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged youth to engage in sports, culture and creative activities to build a healthy, humane and promising Bangladesh.

Drugs are destroying society and we must build a strong resistance against it. Our youth must be engaged in sports, culture and creative activates to build a healthy and humane Bangladesh, he said. 

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the "Valerion World Cup Night 2026" at Shaheed Farhan Faiyaz Playground here in the capital.

The event, jointly organized by Valerion ARC Limited and socio-cultural organisation Ahban, featured a special football tournament for persons with disabilities and those with special needs.

Fakhrul praised the performances of the special needs children and congratulated them for their participation. 

He also commended the competitive spirit shown by university teams in the tournament.

Moved by the special football match, the minister announced a personal donation of Tk two lakh for the participating special needs teams.

Remembering Shaheed Faiyaz and all the martyrs of July Uprising, he said their sacrifices created the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh and urged everyone to work together to uphold that legacy.

American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) emerged champions of the "Valerion World Cup Night 2026" by defeating Far East International University in the final.
 
A total of 24 universities participated in the tournament.