DHAKA : The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), with support from BRAC Bank, has launched a five-phase nationwide programme to unearth women's hockey talent at the grassroots level and build a stronger pipeline for the national team.
The initiative aims to widen the talent pool beyond the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) through district-level training, specialised goalkeeping camps, academic stipends and regional and national competitions, Group Captain Refatul Islam, chairman of the BHF Women's Wing, told BSS.
The first phase has been completed in seven districts - Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Netrokona, Cumilla and Narayanganj. The three hill districts were included to identify promising players from remote areas.
Most participants were schoolgirls in grades six to nine. They received hockey sticks, practice balls and jerseys, along with financial assistance for footwear, socks, transport and refreshments. Local coaches and female coordinators supervised the district programmes.
The second phase covered 15 districts - Kishoreganj, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Narail, Patuakhali, Dhaka, Bogura, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Tangail.
The 20-day training camps provided coaching, equipment and daily allowances to 20 players in each district.
The third phase, a 15-day residential goalkeeping camp in Dhaka, is now underway with 24 selected young goalkeepers receiving specialised training and complete sets of goalkeeping equipment.
Under the fourth phase, nearly 40 players will receive academic stipends from August to December, with additional funding from BRAC Bank, to help them continue playing despite financial constraints.
"We are not just looking at scorelines; we are looking at changing lives," Refatul said, stressing the importance of supporting players and their families.
The programme will conclude with zonal competitions in November and a national round-robin tournament in Dhaka in December. District-based players will represent regional teams, while selected BKSP players will join the later stages to ensure balanced competition.
Refatul said the federation had faced challenges in securing parental consent for girls' participation, adjusting training schedules to school hours and overcoming social conservatism in some communities.
Local sports organisations, district organisers and grassroots activists, including BHF Women's Wing Secretary Tariquzzaman Nannu, helped mobilise families and support the initiative.
The federation plans to expand the programme in 2027, with greater emphasis on the hill tracts and remote districts and the development of locally organised competitions.
BHF Joint Secretary Ariful Haque Prince said the initiative aimed to identify talented players from across the country and prepare them for the national team by developing local talent to international standards.
