In August 2021, the Spanish government told the FIFA that they wanted to gift Bangladesh a state-of-the-art football stadium. Spain's first choice was the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Officials of the Spanish Embassy in Dhaka informed BAFUF about the interest in building this stadium through G2G (Government to Government) agreement.
In the end it didn't. The discussion did not progress. Minister of Youth and Sports Nazmul Hasan Papon also raised the issue of interest in building a stadium in Spain to the media in a meeting with those concerned about three projects in the ministry on Sunday.
The sports minister said, 'As far as I know, this stadium was supposed to be given by the Spanish government. The Prime Minister also asked me to take a look at the design. Although the subject was football. I asked this question to the concerned people today. In the end, I'm told, it didn't. I don't have enough information on why not. They have gone to reform.
In the name of renovation, the National Sports Council has spent a lot of money after a few years on this traditional stadium of the country. In that sense, a new stadium could be built. In this context, the sports minister said, 'I agree hundred percent that it (Bangabandhu Stadium) has become so old that it cannot be renovated. We need a new stadium.'
Nazmul Hasan Papon said that he will visit Bangabandhu Stadium in the next few days. He said, 'I have informed the concerned that I will visit the field. I will look at the complaints. It is not right to talk about what has happened before. I will look into how to avoid further problems and improve. This much I can assure.
When the Spanish government made this proposal to Buffe, the renovation work of Bangabandhu Stadium with a budget of Tk 98 crore was going on. The Spanish government could not give a specific proposal to the Bangladesh government because the discussion did not progress. At that time, the then State Minister of Youth and Sports. Zahid Ahsan Russell was on a visit to Japan.
From there, he said, "Until the Spanish government gives us a specific proposal, we cannot officially say anything about it." The renovation work of this stadium has started. There is also a legal issue here. Still, nothing can be said until the full proposal is received. The stadium can be in Cox's Bazar, it can be in Purbach. We need to know first how they want to do it.
Zahid Ahsan Russell said, "If they want to build our stadium, that is definitely good news." We warmly welcome their proposals. Wherever the stadium is, it will be a big find for us.
Buffe made a design of the stadium and gave it to the Spanish embassy. Later, why this wish of Spain was not accepted by Bangladesh remains a mystery.
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