A total of 245 karatekas from five South Asian countries -- India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and hosts Bangladesh-- will take part in the two-day regional meet.
Leading karatekas, split in four groups --Cadet, Junior, Under-21 and Senior—will lock-horn in the 60 events of the meet.
Bangladesh Karate Federation (BKF) president and commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission, Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan will inaugurate the meet at 10am on Friday while Minister of Foreign Affairs AK Abdul Momen, MP will distribute the prizes among the winners at the closing ceremony on Saturday.
Of the total budget of Tk 1,661,000, Karate Federation managed a sponsor of Tk 450,000 till date.
BKF President Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan disclosed these at a press conference at the conference room of National Sports Council (NSC) here on Thursday.
Secretary of NSC Md Masud Karim, General Secretary of South Asian Karate Do Federation (SAKF) Moazzem Hossain Sentu, BKF Joint Secretary Mostafizur Rahman were also present on the occasion.
Mozammel Haque Khan said, “Despite the scarcity of the venue, Karate Federation has arranged the international competition to uphold the country’s image as well as to prepare our players for South Asian (SA) Games.”
Some 30 karatekas, including 10 women will participate in the upcoming South Asian Games in December in Nepal.