Lack of upkeep affects RU sports facilities

Sports facilities at Rajshahi University (RU), the country’s second largest educational institution and the largest in the greater northern area, are hamstrung by a multitude of problems.
There are sports facilities like a central stadium, the Habibur Rahaman Hall playground, swimming pool and gymnasium, yet almost of them are beset with problems due to negligent management. The stadium looks derelict despite having the highest capacity in the northern region and among public universities.
Sources said that the huge stadium was built at a cost of Tk. 2 crore in 1973. There was a time when it used to have enthusiastic sportspersons on the ground and cheering spectators in its packed galleries. An official of the RU’s Physical Exercise Department (PED) said the stadium was deserted most of the time in the absence of sporting activities.
At present, inter-department and inter-hall games—especially football, cricket, athletics—are held despite a shortage of funds. But bigger fixtures are unheard of.
Rajshahi University has produced many star players, adding to the prestige of the institution. Mushfiq Rahman Babu, Khaled Masud Pilot, and current pace bowler Al-Ameen Hossain are three luminaries of the national cricket team from RU.
Everyone wonders where the delirious supporters of the 1970s and the colourful fans of the 1980s have all gone. The swimming pool has turned into a dump due the indifference and mismanagement of the authorities.
The gymnasium, the university’s another important sporting infrastructure, lacks sophisticated instruments, students alleged.

Lack of upkeep affects RU sports facilities

Sports facilities at Rajshahi University (RU), the countrys second largest educational institution and the largest in the greater northern area, are hamstrung by a multitude of problems. There are sports facilities like a central stadium, the Habibur Rahaman Hall playground, swimming pool and gymnasium, yet almost of them are beset with problems due to negligent management. The stadium looks derelict despite having the highest capacity in the northern region and among public universities. Sources said that the huge stadium was built at a cost of Tk. 2 crore in 1973. There was a time when it used to have enthusiastic sportspersons on the ground and cheering spectators in its packed galleries. An official of the RUs Physical Exercise Department (PED) said the stadium was deserted most of the time in the absence of sporting activities. At present, inter-department and inter-hall gamesespecially football, cricket, athleticsare held despite a shortage of funds. But bigger fixtures are unheard of. Rajshahi University has produced many star players, adding to the prestige of the institution. Mushfiq Rahman Babu, Khaled Masud Pilot, and current pace bowler Al-Ameen Hossain are three luminaries of the national cricket team from RU. Everyone wonders where the delirious supporters of the 1970s and the colourful fans of the 1980s have all gone. The swimming pool has turned into a dump due the indifference and mismanagement of the authorities. The gymnasium, the universitys another important sporting infrastructure, lacks sophisticated instruments, students alleged.