BPL kicks off the Festival of Youth, reflecting the spirit of the July movement

To build a new Bangladesh, the interim government's Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to organise the "Festival of Youth 2025." The event was announced by Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, as the chief guest.

The official journey of the Festival of Youth will begin with this year's BPL. The new season of the Bangladesh Premier League is set to start on 30th December.

The festival, lasting nearly two months until 19th February, will be organised with support from over 12 ministries, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.

In addition to cricket, the festival will feature football, kabaddi, badminton, swimming, athletics, and basketball competitions. It will also incorporate elements of the July-August public uprising, reflecting its spirit throughout the events.

After the official announcement, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Muhammad Hiruzzaman, delivered a welcome speech, followed by the screening of a poignant documentary on the July-August uprising. A minute of silence was observed to honour those who lost their lives during the movement.

As the event's main attraction, the mascot and theme song for the 11th season of the BPL were unveiled. This marks the first time the country's only franchise T20 tournament has introduced a mascot.

The mascot for the new season, named "Dana 36," is a white dove with outstretched wings. The word "Dana" (wings) symbolises freedom and independence, while the 36 colourful feathers on its wings commemorate the 36 days of the historic July-August movement. Each feather aims to inspire ambitious, energetic, and unstoppable youth to build a new Bangladesh.

For the first time, along with the mascot, a theme song has also been created for the BPL. According to BCB President and BPL Governing Council Chairman Faruq Ahmed, the song is inspired by the slogan "Let's Change the Nation, Let's Change the World," provided by Interim Government Chief Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which also serves as the festival's theme.

This season's BPL will incorporate themes of the July-August student-people movement. Spectators attending matches will have free access to water, with a "Shaheed Mugdha Corner" named after martyr Mir Mugdha. Visitors can also donate to the July Foundation via QR codes displayed there.

To promote environmental preservation and recycling, all venues will be designated as waste-free zones, highlighting the benefits of zero waste. The BCB is also working towards selling all BPL tickets online to reduce spectators' inconvenience.

To expand the reach of the Festival of Youth beyond cricket enthusiasts to the general population, three "Music Fest" concerts will be held in BPL venues in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. The BCB President also hinted at additional surprises.

During the festival, a total of 16 football matches (8 for men and 8 for women) will be held every Friday and Saturday. Additionally, the Under-15 National Cup and the Under-20 Women's SAFF Championship will be organised, marking the conclusion of the Festival of Youth.

Besides sports, the festival will host various competitions, including debates, quizzes, inter-school and college contests, essay writing, skill showcases, and art competitions on the theme "July 36."

Other planned activities include youth and entrepreneurship assemblies, workshops, public awareness programmes, an art gallery exhibition on the July Revolution, scholarships and donations, a championship award for zero-waste promotion, primary health service campaigns, and a nutrition Olympiad for teenagers.

In his closing speech, Chief Guest Asif Mahmud emphasised that the Festival of Youth aims to send a message of national rebuilding and state reform.

"Sports unite us, especially cricket, which always brings us together. Regardless of our differences in other areas, we stand united when it comes to sports. Preserving this national unity is one of the key objectives of this Festival of Youth, as we move forward towards rebuilding the nation and reforming the state."

The event concluded with the unveiling of the BPL mascot and theme song.