United News of Bangladesh

Four Bangladeshi women athletes who recently accompanied Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on a official visit to Qatar returned home and shared their experience with the media on Friday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. This historic visit was the first time that female athletes joined the head of government as official delegates on a foreign mission. Footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, and cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana represented Bangladesh’s growing presence in women’s sports. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder introduced the athletes to the media on Friday, after they returned home.  “They visited Qatar’s sports facilities, met with senior sports officials, and were interviewed by the local media. It was a completely new experience for them,” Azad Majumder said. Sharmin Sultana was one of the two women cricketers of this visit, she said the tour was significant for them.  “We visited two major stadiums, one of which hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup and is now dedicated to women’s football. We also had the chance to speak with the founder of the Qatar Foundation, which supports women’s sports,” Sharmin said in front of the media.  “It was an honour. People congratulated us throughout the trip,” Sumaiya Akhter, the other cricketer, said.  Shaheda Akter Ripa noted that the visiting team discussed injury management challenges for female athletes in Bangladesh during their meetings. “We raised the issue of limited rehab facilities for women in sports” he said, recalling their meeting with the high official of Qatar Foundation.  “It was a huge achievement for us and for women’s sports in Bangladesh to travel as official representatives with the Chief Adviser,” Afida Khandakar, the woman footballer, said.  The visit was part of Bangladesh’s official delegation to the Earthna Summit in Doha. After finishing the Qatar visit, the Chief Adviser travelled to the Vatican to attend the funeral of the Pope, who recently passed away after suffering prolonged illness.