The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal Inter-School and Madrasah Athletics Competition 2023, the country's biggest athletics completion, organised by the Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) will begin on Saturday at the upazila level. Around 50 lakh promising athletes from all upazilas will compete in 32 events in four categories of the competition. President of Bangladesh Athletics Federation and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina M Tofazzel Hossain Miah disclosed the details of the competition at a press conference in the capital Thursday evening. In A and B groups, sixth and eighth-graders will compete in 100-metre, and 200-metre runs, high jump and long jump. In C and D groups, ninth and tenth-graders will compete in 100-metre, 200-metre, 400-metre, 800-metre, 1500-metre runs, high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin throw, shot put, discus throw and 4x100-metre relay race. The inter-upazila level competition will be held during January 14-28, the district level competition during February 1-5, and the divisional level during February 9-13. The final round of national level competition, featuring the winners of the divisional level, will be held later. Read more: National Athletics: Army lead medal table with 15 golds, 11 silvers, 13 bronzes  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday provided Tk 74.81 crore for 1,67,225 non-MPO teachers and employees of the country as they have been passing days in miseries to the pandemic that led to the closure of educational institutions for a long time. According to a media release issued by the PMO Press Wing, there are 105,785 teachers and employees in general education while the number is 61,440 in madrasah and  Ebtadayee Madrasah and vocational education. Sheikh Hasina provided Tk 46.63 crore in favour of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Division while Tk 28.18 crore in favour of Vocational and Madrasah Education Division. Also read: PM provides Tk 122 cr assistance for mosques The release said that each teacher will get Tk 5,000 while the employees will get Tk 2,500 each. On May 2, the Prime Minister provided cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive in this tough time. Each family directly received Tk 2,500 through G2P (Government-to-Person) as the cash will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) – Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash. Also read: PM provides financial assistance to 6,959 Qawmi madrasas More than Tk 1,500 crore has already been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalised people during the second wave of coronavirus. Soon after the second wave of coronavirus came in sight, the Prime Minister instantly directed the authorities concerned to start the activities of humanitarian assistance. Since the Covid-19 lockdown was enforced from April 14 last, marginalised people like temporary workless people, destitute, day-labourers, rickshaw- and van-pullers, transport workers, the third gender and beggars in urban and rural areas. Also read: PM provides financial assistance to 8 organisations As per the PM’s directive, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk 590 crore to the field-level administration to provide support to the needy people and the disbursement of the money continues. Besides, the Prime Minister allocated Tk 10.5 crore against deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to the poor and destitute. The Prime Minister has also provided Tk 10 crore to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardship due to the fallout of the pandemic.