Qatar to help Bangladesh build sports facilities for women athletes
Qatar Foundation pledges support for new training centers to empower women in sports
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Qatar will support Bangladesh in developing dedicated sports facilities for women athletes, a move aimed at addressing critical infrastructure gaps and promoting greater inclusion in professional sports.
The Qatar Foundation made the pledge during a meeting between Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, CEO of the Qatar Foundation, and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on the sidelines of the Earthna Summit in Doha this week.
According to the Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, the discussion focused on the urgent need to improve training infrastructure for Bangladeshi women in sports.
Four national athletes—two each from football and cricket—shared personal accounts of the challenges they face due to limited facilities, including the lack of dormitories, gyms, and medical support.
Moved by their stories, Sheikha Hind—herself a former athlete and sister of the Emir—offered Qatar Foundation’s support to establish a new foundation in Bangladesh focused on women’s sports.
The initiative would include dormitories, training fields, healthcare services, and international guest accommodations.
Professor Yunus confirmed that Bangladesh is preparing to launch the foundation and called for full Qatari backing.
He also proposed hosting specialized short-term sports programs for girls from rural Bangladesh and across SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, and Middle Eastern countries—an idea welcomed by Sheikha Hind.
The two also discussed a proposed social business fund to support retired athletes in building entrepreneurial careers, another concept that received positive feedback from the Qatari side.
Earlier, Professor Yunus also held talks with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and mother of the Emir.
Their meeting focused on expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and Qatar across multiple sectors.
Sheikha Moza expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh in the near future.
The initiative marks a significant step toward addressing the gender gap in sports infrastructure and career support in Bangladesh, offering hope for greater regional cooperation in women’s athletics.
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