With the slogan “If sports become a profession, families find security,” the Deputy Commissioner Women’s Gold Cup Football Tournament 2026 has kicked off in Mymensingh. The tournament was inaugurated Saturday (September 19) afternoon at the Mymensingh District Stadium amidst a grand ceremony marked by the releasing of balloons. Fakhr Uddin Ahmed Bachchu, Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-11 (Bhaluka), attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest.

Presided over by Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman, the event featured a welcome address by Mahbubul Alam, Member Secretary of the District Sports Association. Special guests who spoke at the event included Mohammad Salman Omar, MP for Mymensingh-1 (Haluaghat-Dhobaura); Rukunuzzaman Rokon, Administrator of Mymensingh City Corporation; and Motahar Hossain Talukdar, Chairman of the Mymensingh District Development Authority.

In his speech, chief guest Fakhr Uddin Ahmed Bachchu stated that if youths from every upazila participate spontaneously in sports, Mymensingh will remain at the forefront of both academics and athletics across Bangladesh. He emphasized that there is no alternative to sports for keeping the youth away from drugs and anti-social activities. He also stressed the importance of regular competitions at the grassroots level to nurture the talent of female footballers.

In his presidential address, Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman remarked that sports foster a sense of discipline alongside the physical and mental development of the youth. He noted that creating opportunities for female footballers would pave the way for talented players from Mymensingh to reach the national level. The tournament opened with a match between the women’s teams of Mymensingh Sadar Upazila and Bhaluka Upazila.

In this match, the Bhaluka Upazila team defeated Mymensingh Sadar 2-0. Another match featured the women’s teams from Muktagacha and Gafargaon Upazilas. A festive atmosphere prevailed in the stadium galleries. Organized by the Mymensingh District Administration with the cooperation of the District Sports Association and the District Women’s Sports Association, the tournament involves 14 women’s teams from the district. The final match is scheduled to take place on October 1 at 4:00 PM at the Mymensingh District Stadium.