Roman Sana-Diya Siddiqui is the most talked about couple in Bangladesh sports. love to play Then marriage. Now on 'Aim for Better Life' in US News Jersey. The number of sportsmen who have settled abroad in the middle or at the end of the game is not less. There are almost a hundred players in the United States! It started in the 80s and 90s and is still going on.
The country's economy has grown. Bangladesh is one of the developing countries. There is still a very bad situation in the development of sports. Outside of cricket-football, other sports are going on a lot! Even if it brings success, it rarely gets economic or social recognition. Thinking about their present and future, when they get a chance, some people migrate abroad. As if Roman-Dia had left the country, he reminded again of the rough image of the sports arena.
Saidur Rahman Don, the country's first Olympian who migrated to the United States in 1994, asked a new question, why did he leave the country? The country's two-time fastest man answered the Bengali Tribune on the phone with a regretful tone, 'I wanted to give something to the country's athletics. I left the game and worked as an organizer. But at one stage I did not get such a working environment. I have the highest degree from the university of the country. Took highest coaching degree from Patiala. I tried to use the experience of different places in the country's athletics. But I couldn't. So don't think about everything and choose life abroad. I am not alone, there are 100 athletes of different disciplines in America alone.'
Don further argues, 'where the players have no future. Applying for a national sports award is, I would say, a form of begging. It is difficult to develop sports there. I think that those who come to this time and are still disappointed thinking about their career and future, they move out of the country for a better life when they get a chance.'
Asim Biswas was the first among archers to settle in the United States. Reiterating the reason for leaving the country from New York, he said, 'When I used to do archery in the country, I used to get 8 thousand rupees. At one stage it increased to 20 thousand. Tell how a sportsman can live with this money. Even if you play in the national team, you don't get money that way. What is our future, no one can say. So I took the opportunity to say goodbye to the federation and came to the United States and got a green card. I am much better here now. Earning good money by driving. I can support the family well. Maybe the game has to be forgotten. But there is nothing to do. We cannot live well playing in the country.'
Other players could not hide their anger and frustration on social media Facebook. Former badminton champion Elina Sultana's question, 'Can't you give the players from the country the hope of a better life? This is the failure of all federations. Can't overcome it, can only issue orders and bans on players.'
Manas Chowdhury, another former champion in table tennis, wants to say that everyone leaves the country without hope. How much do players get paid in sports other than cricket? Pay as long as you play on it, no one knows what will happen next. No job security after retirement from the game, no pension. So why clinging to something, hoping for what! I think, if all the qualified players have the opportunity, money and means, they will all move abroad in the hope of a better future.'
Bangladesh coach Maududur Rahman, who played in the Junior Asia Cup Hockey and made it to the World Cup, wrote with disappointment after understanding the real situation, 'Despite qualifying for the World Cup, the junior hockey team does not see any light of hope. Apart from cricket, football everyone is very weak financially. With the money they earn, sometimes it becomes difficult to buy sports equipment. Bangladesh can do well in many sports if office teams come forward in other sports and job security as per educational qualification. Those who play in the national team will not be able to compete with others in the job test. Special facilities should be kept for them. Because they are sacrificing their studies to play for the country. So if life after the game is guaranteed, good players will stay in the country and focus more on the game.'
The former captain of the national volleyball team, Syed Al Jabir, has left the game and is living in France. He wrote from there, 'Sponsors come by seeing the players. But the money goes into the pockets of officials. In the country where the income of the officials is higher than the players, it is better not to be there? I think they (Roman-Dia) have taken a good decision.'
Mehedi Prannoy Turya's father is often troubled while looking for a sponsor for his chess daughter. His anger, 'Does this country need any other players other than cricket?'
Who will focus on building a bright future for athletes by eliminating anger and frustration?
