The first phase of the district-level activities of the ‘BRAC Bank Oporajeyo Alo Women’s Hockey Development Programme 2026’ is set to begin in Sylhet today, with the formal inauguration scheduled for 4pm.
Organised by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation and sponsored by BRAC Bank, the nationwide initiative is aimed at identifying promising young female hockey players at grassroots level and providing them with structured opportunities to develop their skills.
A total of 25 emerging female hockey players selected from four leading educational institutions in Sylhet are taking part in the special training camp. The participating institutions are Ambarkhana Girls’ School and College, Sylhet Government High School at Lakkatura, Sylhet Cantonment Public School and College, and Government Agragami Girls’ High School and College.
The initiative places educational institutions at the centre of its talent-development effort, creating an avenue through which young players can be identified and introduced to more organised hockey training. For many aspiring athletes, access to regular coaching and a competitive environment can be an important step towards progressing from school-level participation to higher levels of the sport.
The inaugural event will be attended by Sylhet District Commissioner and District Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun as the chief guest. BRAC Bank’s Sylhet Regional Manager Rezaur Rahman, Bangladesh Hockey Federation Executive Committee Member Nazrul Islam Nazu and Tarikuzzaman Nannu, secretary of the federation’s Women’s Wing, are also expected to attend, along with prominent figures from the local sporting community.
The programme is being conducted simultaneously in seven districts across Bangladesh as part of an effort to strengthen the grassroots development of women’s hockey. By selecting players from different educational institutions and providing them with specialised training, the organisers aim to create a broader pool of young talent capable of progressing through the sport’s competitive structure.
Grassroots development has particular significance for women’s hockey, where sustained participation depends not only on identifying talented players but also on ensuring that they have access to appropriate coaching and opportunities to improve. School-based initiatives can help bring the sport to a wider group of young athletes while encouraging institutions to play a more active role in nurturing sporting talent.
The Sylhet camp is therefore expected to provide the selected players with an opportunity to sharpen their hockey skills while gaining experience in a more focused training environment. The organisers hope that continued development through initiatives of this kind will help produce players capable of competing at higher levels in the future.
The nationwide programme also reflects a broader effort to widen participation in women’s sport by creating pathways for young athletes from the grassroots. The organisers and local sports stakeholders expressed hope that the initiative would encourage more girls to take up hockey and contribute to renewed momentum for women’s participation in the sport.
The Sylhet phase marks another step in that wider effort, bringing together young players, educational institutions, sports administrators and local stakeholders with a common objective: identifying promising female hockey talent and helping them develop towards a higher competitive standard.
