Eleven athletes, including three under-17 players, and a coach, who participated in the just-concluded Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games in Dhaka, were arrested  in Rajshahi on charges of ‘beating’ a police officer and ‘stealing’ his wife’s ornaments. The arrestees are Brishti Moni, 16, Jemi Akter, 14, Rimi Khanan, 17, Farhana Khandokar, 17, Sabrina Akter, 19, Dipali, 19, Papia Sarwar Purnima, 19, Khadiza Khatun, 18, Abdul Al Jahid, 16, Ali Azam, 19, Ramjan, 19, Akash Ali Mohan, 20, and coach Ahsan Kabir, 45. Belal Hossain, a relative of a minor female athlete said, the athletes and the coach returned to Rajshahi by Dhumketu Express train from Dhaka Sunday noon. Also Read: Youth Games: Rangpur, Rajshahi divisions reach women's football final Police constable Golam Kibria assaulted a female athlete while the athletes were searching for their missing luggage after the train reached Rajshahi rail station, he alleged. “He attacked another athlete as well. After they got off the train a fight erupted again,” he said. He also said railway police took them to the police station to settle the matter but later filed a case against them. Also Read: PM Hasina opens final phase of Sheikh Kamal Youth Games Gopal Kumar, officer-in-charge of Rajshahi Railway Police Station, said, police constable Golam Kibria’s wife Sultana Razia Sultana filed the case against athletes alleging that they beat up her husband and stole her gold chain. Kibria was sent to the Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, he said. He also said that the police officer’s brother Golam Sarwar, also a witness in the case, denied any incident inside the train. “He claimed they had a dispute over getting off the train, and then a fight erupted,” said the OC. Liton Hossain, acting chief judicial magistrate of the chief judicial magistrate court of Rajshahi, sent seven of the accused athletes to jail when they were produced before the court. Women and Child repression Prevention Tribunal-2 granted the minors and women athletes interim bail till 10 am on Monday. The lawyer of the accused, Mainul Islam said, there’s no specific allegation against the minors. “Judge Md. Hasanuzzaman will give the final decision after the full hearing on Monday,” he said.    

The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023, organised by the Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), began Monday in eleven districts of the country. The first phase inter-upazila level competition of the Games kicked off at Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Rangamati, Chandpur, Mymensingh, Narsingdi, Joypurhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Barguna and Lakshmipur. Former Chattogram City mayor AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the Games at MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram at a function chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) and CJKS President Abu Bashar Mohammad Fakruzzaman. Read: National Handball: Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, Kushtia top groups DC Dewan Mahbubur Rahman inaugurated the competition at Shaheed Bhulu Stadium in Noakhali and DC Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman at the Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. DC Abu Nayeem Mohammad Maruf Khan launched the competition at the Moslehuddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Narsingdi and DC Habibur Rahman in Barguna. DC Saidul Arif inaugurated the Games in Kurigram, DC Pankoj Ghose in Nilphamari and Lakshmipur-2 MP Nur Uddin Nayon in Lakshmipur. After the completion of the first phase on January 10, the inter-district second phase of the competition will be held during January 16-22. Read: Sri Lanka lift Women's International Beach Volleyball trophy The final phase of the competition will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4. Boys and girls aged under 17, born after January 2, 2006, can participate in the competition by showing their birth certificates. With the new inclusion of cycling, gymnastics and rugby, the Games will feature 24 disciplines of sports. Around 50,000 athletes took part in the first Youth Games in 21 disciplines of sports. An athlete can compete in a maximum of eight events – six in individual and two in team events – in the first phase of the Games.  

The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games'.2023, organised by Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), begins on January 2 at the country's upazila level.    On completion of the first phase on January 10, the Inter-District 2nd phase of the meet will be held January 16-22 and the final phase of the meet will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4. Read more: Bangladesh win Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball with unbeaten record BOA Vice President and Chairman of the Games media committee Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Mamun disclosed the details of the meet at a press conference at the Dutch-Bangla Auditorium of BOA on Wednesday. Member Secretary of the Games Steering Committee Ashiqur Rahman Miku, Games Chief  Coordinator Brigadier General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and member secretary of the Media Committee Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir were also present at the press conference.    The Under-17 boys and girls, who was born after January 2, 2006 will be entitled to participate in the meet showing their birth certificates. Read more: 27th National Youth Hockey final Tuesday Some 60,000 athletes are expected to compete in 24 disciplines of sports with new inclusion Cycling, Gymnastics and Rugby in the ensuing Youth Game. In the first Youth Games, some 50,000 athletes took part in 21 disciplines of sports. An athlete will compete in maximum eight events--six individual and two team events--in the first phase of the meet. A strong and high-level organizing committee was formed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chief Patron and Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal as the Chairman.  Earlier on December 23, BOA President and Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed unveiled the games logo and mascot at a function at the Bangladesh Army Multi-Purpose Complex here.