History of Physical Education in Bangladesh

Written by
Dr. Mohammad Sohel, Prof. Department of PESS
Hannan Mia, Lecturer, Department of PESS

Very little has been written about the study of physical education in pre and post
independent Bangladesh. The greatest drawback of our civilization, without doubt,
has been that people never kept written records of their culture, education, and
physical education adventures. Education has been defined as a change,
modification, or adjustment on the part of the student as a result of experience. The
aim of physical education is the wholesome development of human relationships,
personality, or complete living that is physically, mentally, stimulating, and socially
sound for those who participate in physical activities. The aim of physical
education in Bangladesh depends to a great extent on the political and social
changes that take place in our society. Our society has recently achieved freedom
and chosen to become a secular democratic republic. This means that physical
education must contribute to the development of qualities of body and mind, as
well as enable our children to take responsibility for democratic discipline,
citizenship, and building new, good moral characters.
Before the Renaissance in Europe, education was heavily regulated, and there was
no formal inclusion of physical education in academic settings. Physical activity
was primarily associated with military training and prowess. However, during the
Renaissance, there was a significant shift towards cultivating well-rounded citizens
for the advancement of nations in Europe. This led to the introduction of physical
education in educational institutions with the aim of fostering both physical and
mental well-being. Over time, through various trials and adaptations, modern
physical education emerged in Europe. Recognizing its value within educational
settings, its adoption spread worldwide, contributing to the holistic development of
individuals globally.
To discuss the history of physical education in Bangladesh, it is necessary to
discuss the physical education of the Indian subcontinent. During the period when
the Indian subcontinent was under British rule, the sports drills and physical
exercises that were part of the British school education programs. The European
physical education system was introduced in the then British India on a limited
scale. For this result physical education program were introduced into the
government schools of the Indian subcontinent. At that time, physical education
was introduced such as athletics, football and volleyball partly practiced in some
schools; however, sports and physical activities were not prevalent in private
schools.
An Englishman named James Buchanan took the initiative to train physical
education teachers and promote and popularize sports and physical education
activities in this subcontinent. To make this initiative successful, he established a
College of Physical Education in Madras. After completing the training from the
college, they worked as physical education teachers in the schools of this
subcontinent. Even at that time, school sports and competitions were ongoing, and
students took part in these activities. Kazi Abdul Alim, former principal of Dhaka
Physical Education College from 1942 to 1947, said that he participated in school
competitions during this period.
After the partition in 1947, there was a great void in the field of sports, physical
education, and scouts in schools. At this time, Hindus were more educated. As a
result of migration to India, there was a shortage of teachers in schools, especially
physical education teachers in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan established a
physical education college in Lahore to address the shortage, but there was no
physical education college in East Pakistan at that time.
The Pakistan government introduced physical education programs in educational
institutions and recruited physical education teachers in every educational
institution, ensuring playgrounds, sports equipment, and starting inter-madrasa,
inter-college, inter-school, and inter-university sports competitions. This physical
education program achieved through the Liberation War is maintained in
independent Bangladesh.
After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, youth, sports, and physical
education programs were administered and governed by the education minister.
Just after independence, under patronization of Bangladesh's first Prime Minister
Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman, Bangladesh Government established
Football, Hockey, Gymnastics, Athletics, Swimming, Boxing Federation and
Bangladesh Women Sports Control Board in 1972. In 1984, the government of
Bangladesh opened a new ministry named the Youth and Sports Ministry. All
youth, sports, and physical education activities are conducted by this ministry,
which is also responsible for the implementation of physical education programs in
the country. Under the direction of the Youth and Sports Ministry, sports
administration training programs are conducted, and six government physical
education colleges in the country are overseen. After receiving training from these
colleges, teachers are appointed as physical education teachers in all educational
institutions of the country. Through these physical education teachers, the
implementation of physical education programs and organized sports competitions
are held all over the country. Additionally, district sports officers work under the
directives of the Youth and Sports Ministry to implement sports programs adopted
by the government.
School and madrasa competitions are held twice a year under the Directorate of the
Ministry of Education. Refresher courses for physical education teachers are
regularly conducted under their management. Recognizing the importance of
physical education, the government has taken necessary steps to start compulsory
physical education programs in classes six to eight and introduce science and
sports classes in classes nine to ten.
To address the lack of educational opportunities in the field of physical education,
steps were taken in 1952 to establish the Department of Physical Education under
the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) in East Pakistan. This decision aimed to
provide resources and infrastructure for the development of physical education,
particularly in regions where educational institutions were lacking. While a
physical education college had been established in Lahore, West Pakistan, such
facilities were not available in East Pakistan at the time. As a result, physical
education college was established in 1954 in the abandoned Rajbari of Gourepur,
Mymensingh. Mr. Kelliher served as the director of the physical education
department and also performed additional duties as the principal of the newly
established physical education college. Subsequently, in 1955, it was relocated to
Dhaka, specifically to Armanitola. The college was later shifted to various
locations before finally settling in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, as the first government
Physical College in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in 1962. To meet increasing
demand, a second physical education college was established in Rajshahi in 1979,
with educational programs starting in 1983.
Initially, the Physical Education Colleges were under the control of the Physical
Education Department of the Ministry of Education (DPI). The structure of this
department included one Director, one Deputy, one Assistant Director, and one
physical education organizer in each district, who visited school sports and
physical education activities.
In 1984, the government created a separate ministry called the Youth and Sports
Ministry, under which the positions of college and district physical sports
organizers were established. The post of district physical education organizer was
changed to district sports officer. However, sports in schools lagged behind as there
was no one to look after physical education activities in schools.
Another step taken by the government was to build a sports facility on 100 acres of
land in Jirani Savar to improve the quality of sports in the country. Sixty acres of
this land were reserved for the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP), and
the remaining forty acres were reserved for the Physical Education College. The
Dhaka Physical Education College was planned to become a women's Physical
Education College.
When General Ershad came to power, forty acres of land allotted for the Physical
Education College were given to BKSP, hindering the Department of Physical
Education. If the Physical Education College had co-existed with the sports
institute (BKSP), they could have used their facilities to produce high-quality
physical education teachers, which would have played a major role in the
development of schools, colleges, and sports in Bangladesh. Due to the increase in
schools and colleges in Bangladesh, the demand for physical education teachers is
increasing. To meet that demand, more Physical Education Colleges were opened,
including those in Bhagirath and Chittagong. In 2001, two more Physical
Education Colleges were established in the Mymensingh and Barisal districts, with
activities starting in 2009.
In the private sector, various Physical Education Colleges were also established in
various districts, contributing to meeting the demand for physical education
teachers. B.P.Ed courses have been introduced in Chittagong and Uttara University.
Uttara University, Dhaka, is meeting the demand for higher degrees in physical
education by introducing the Master of Physical Education (MPEd) course.
A significant development in physical education has been the introduction of
honors courses in physical education and Sports Science at public universities such
as Jessore University of Science and Technology, Rajshahi University, Chittagong
University, Islamic University, and Daffodil International University, which has
further strengthened the development and foundation of physical education.
Physical education is becoming increasingly important in schools across
Bangladesh. Teacher guides for physical education from class 1 to class 5 have
already received approval from the Ministry of Education. In 1993, books were
introduced in schools to support physical education. Although physical education
has been listed as a compulsory subject from class 6 to class 8 since 1994, actual
implementation and activities in schools were minimal. The statement accurately
describes a significant milestone in Bangladesh's education system. In 2013, the
Government of Bangladesh introduced physical education as a compulsory subject
in classes nine and ten, allocating 100 marks for it under the name of "Physical
Education, Health Science, and Sports." This initiative aimed to promote physical
fitness and overall well-being among students. In the 2022-2023 session, a new
curriculum was indeed introduced for secondary education in Bangladesh. Under
this curriculum, Physical Education, Health Science, and Sports have been
integrated into a subject called "Wellbeing." This subject has been made
compulsory for students from class six to ten, emphasizing the holistic
development and overall health of students. This elevation in status and importance
highlights the growing significance of physical education. It is anticipated that the
future of physical education in Bangladesh will continue to progress positively.

Bangladesh Ministry of Education. (1993). Teacher guides for Physical Education from Class 1 to Class 5. Approved
by the Ministry of Education.
Bangladesh Ministry of Education. (1994). Curriculum materials introduced in schools to support Physical
Education.
Bangladesh Ministry of Education. (1994). Introduction of Physical Education as a compulsory subject from Class 6
to Class 8.
Bangladesh Ministry of Education. "Revised Curriculum for Physical Education, Health Science and Sports for
Secondary Level (Classes IX-X)." 2013.
Bangladesh Ministry of Education. "Revised Curriculum for Secondary Education (Classes VI-X) - 2022-2023
Session." 2022.

Hossain, Md Jakir (2006). The Education System of Bangladesh, p. 260. Dhaka Central Public Library,
Dhaka.
Kabir, Md Billal (1999). The History of Govt.Physical Education College, Dhaka, p. 87. Library of
Govt.Physical Education College, Dhaka.

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