The Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Ministry of Youth and Sports signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday, placing Dhanmondi's Abahani Ground and Dhanmondi Club Ground under the latter's preservation, maintenance and management going forward.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque said the move reflects a broader government effort to break away from the politicisation that sporting clubs across the country have endured over the past 17 years.

He explained that alongside neutral oversight, both grounds would receive necessary infrastructure upgrades aimed at raising sporting standards and helping produce competitive athletes from within the local community.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher attended the signing ceremony as chief guest, with the ministry's secretary Md Obaidur Rahman chairing proceedings at the Secretariat, where officials from both ministries formalised the agreement.

Aminul Haque stressed that neither ground would remain restricted to a single club or particular group, insisting instead that children, young people, women and disadvantaged communities would all be guaranteed a safe environment in which to participate.

"There will be sports grounds, children will play, and we want to ensure this," Aminul Haque said, addressing journalists on the sidelines of the event regarding the government's broader commitment to protecting public sporting spaces.

Abahani Ground currently houses football and cricket pitches alongside a basketball court, gymnasium and club tent, with the state minister confirming plans to renovate rather than demolish the existing facilities already in place.

Dhanmondi Ground is similarly set for upgrades, with proposals on the table for smaller dedicated spaces catering to archery, shooting, futsal, padel and five a side hockey, developed under a public private partnership model.

Aminul Haque cautioned that construction alone would not guarantee success, arguing that consistent maintenance remained essential if the renovated facilities were to avoid falling into disrepair over time.

He added that plans were also under way to build a futsal ground in every ward of Dhaka, alongside a phased renovation of other Public Works Department grounds intended for eventual public use.

Zakaria Taher noted that his ministry oversees several additional grounds nationwide, suggesting the Youth and Sports Ministry could take on broader management responsibilities should this Dhanmondi arrangement prove successful.

He further explained that multipurpose sports complexes built across these spaces could offer children, adolescents and young people access to a wider range of disciplines within a single shared location.

Abahani Ground itself had previously operated under a long term lease held by Abahani Limited, which first applied for 9.76 acres back in 1996, before an additional 0.89 acres was added to that agreement in 2010.

That lease was eventually cancelled after allegations emerged that payments had gone unpaid for years and that several conditions attached to the original agreement had been repeatedly violated by the club.

Zakaria Taher confirmed the agreement with Abahani Club was formally terminated on 11 May, citing unapproved construction on the site and attempts to exploit portions of the ground for commercial purposes.

"The agreement required approval from the relevant authorities before any structures could be constructed. However, several structures were built by Abahani Club without approval," Taher said, explaining the ministry's reasoning behind the cancellation.

Dhanmondi Ground's management history followed a somewhat different path, having technically remained under Dhaka South City Corporation oversight while effectively controlled for years by what later became known as Dhanmondi Sports Club.

There have also been repeated allegations over time that members of the general public were denied access to that ground, further motivating the government's decision to bring both venues under centralised ministry control.

Aminul Haque confirmed that discussions would continue with current officials from both Abahani and Dhanmondi clubs, insisting the government had no intention of demolishing any existing infrastructure already built at either site.

"The structure is there, and we will move forward keeping it. We will not demolish it. A decision has already been taken on how we can utilise it without demolishing it," he said.

Asked whether other clubs might eventually train at Abahani Ground, Aminul Haque said the club would continue playing there, while leaving open the possibility of expanding access for additional sports down the line.

He also outlined wider government ambitions for sport nationally, confirming that Tk 200 crore had been allocated in this year's budget alongside approval for new sports officer posts across all 495 upazilas in the country.

Ministry of Housing and Public Works secretary Md Obaidur Rahman described the agreement as more than a routine formality, framing it instead as a meaningful step towards preserving Dhaka's key sporting spaces for future generations.

He added that ensuring participation from women and disadvantaged communities remained a priority alongside the broader goal of creating safe, accessible environments for children and young people to engage in sport.

Youth and Sports Ministry secretary Md Mahbub ul Alam noted that the current government's manifesto specifically commits to preserving and developing sporting grounds at every administrative level, describing Thursday's signing as one step within that wider process.