Rangpur Divisional Women's Sports Complex lies in neglect

RANGPUR, Dec 03: It glitters outside but is hollow inside. Splendid Rangpur Divisional Women's Sports Complex was built in Rangpur city at a cost of Tk380 million (Tk 38 crore) in order to promote women's sports in Rangpur division. But its purpose is yet to be materialised owing to alleged negligence by the authorities concerned.

Even though it has been two years since the construction work was completed, the divisional women's sports complex has remained abandoned, making the people of the northern region skeptical about its future.

Sources said that no manpower has been appointed in the sports complex for a long time.

It is learnt, due to lack of maintenance, the expensive equipment in the gymnasium of the sports complex are drawing dust.

In addition, moss and cracks have appeared in the building, gradually causing damage to the structure, leaving the establishment's future bleak.

It is also learnt, to promote women sports the Rangpur region, the National Sports Council took the initiative to set up a sports complex on 10 acres of land at Uttam Hazirhat in Rangpur city in 2017.

Its construction was completed in December 2023 spending Tk 380 million. But since then it has been lying non-functional.

Similarly, despite having a massive playground, indoor facilities, hostels, offices and conference rooms, no manpower is yet to be appointed in order to make the sports complex functional.

Only two security guards of the sports complex are passing days in uncertainty owing to lack of salary.

One of the security guards requesting anonymity told The Financial Express that costly indoor and gym equipments are getting damaged due to lack of use and preservation. They are also passing subhuman lives in acute miseries as they have not been receiving salaries for a long time, he further said.

Some local residents alleged that it has been many years since sport events were organised here last.The authorities concerned seem to be indifferent to this matter.

Expressing disappointment, a good number of local female players alleged that the complex as well as the costly equipment are lying in a state of abandonment. Consequently, the condition of the equipment is deteriorating.

Local players including Salma, Arifa Jahan and Neer have expressed their grievance and said that the government's expenditure of crores of taka is just a waste of money. Presently, it has become a grazing ground, they also said.

"There is a very big indoor facility here. There is accommodation for girls." yet, it has been lying closed for so many years, we don't know why it has remained non-operational," Lucky Akhter, a local athlete alleged.

"We live in a divisional city, but we are always being deprived. Such a big complex has been lying abandoned for a long time which is severely hindering progress of girls' sports in the region," she lamented.

Meanwhile, some locals alleged that it seems to them that the entire government money has been wasted there. Because even though there are all the facilities for sports in the complex, due to lack of maintenance and manpower, it is on the verge of destruction.

Several months ago, the adviser for youth and sports came to Rangpur Stadium, but unfortunately he also did not inquire about the complex, they added.

Talking to The Financial Express, Masud Rana, district sports officer, Rangpur, said that the higher authorities have taken the matter seriously and already visited the non-operational Rangpur Divisional Women Sports Complex area a couple of months ago.

He hoped that necessary steps would be taken to make the sports complex operational soon.

When contacted, Selwara Begum, member secretary of the Rangpur Divisional Women's Sports Complex Committee, told The Financial Express that they were trying their level best to make the non-operational women's sports complex operational.

She also stressed the need for necessary manpower including trainer, office staffs, skilled technician to run the equipment of the gym smoothly and to ensure proper preservation of the precious equipment in the sports complex.

sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com