There is a clear sense of purpose in the way the Director General of the Bangladesh Olympic Association approaches both leadership and sport. Disciplined, composed, and deeply committed to national development, he believes that sport is a powerful force for building character, inspiring excellence, and uniting people across generations.
A retired Brigadier General of the Bangladesh Army, he has dedicated much of his career to nurturing sporting excellence, with golf holding a special place in that journey. From serving as the Rector of the Bangladesh Golf Academy to now leading the Bangladesh Olympic Association, he continues to champion initiatives that create opportunities for athletes and strengthen the country’s sporting ecosystem.
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Q 1. Could you please explain the role of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) in supporting Bangladesh’s participation in the international sporting events?
The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) commonly known as National Olympic Committee of Bangladesh (NOC BAN) is the extension of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Bangladesh aimed to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in the country in accordance with the Olympic Charter. BOA works in harmony with the government and national federations to prepare and participate in both national and international Games. Alongside the Olympic Games, it also serves as a coordinating body to represent Bangladesh in the international sport competitions e,g, Asian Games, South Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Islamic Solidarity Games etc. BOA works closely with all stakeholders for effective participation of Bangladesh Contingent in the Games mentioned above.
Q 2. What does the Bangladesh Olympic Association do for the Bangladesh Golf Federation?
Like any other Olympic discipline federations, BOA attaches special attention to the Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF) because of its previous performance and future potentials. It was a landmark initiative to organize the maiden ‘Technical Course for Coaches in Golf’ in collaboration with IOC in early April 2026 in Dhaka. BOA provides financial and moral support to BGF to develop golf at grassroot level and produce professional golfers like Siddikur Rahman who participated in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through qualification. The initiative of organizing National Amateur Ranking Tournament is quite encouraging. Events like these are extremely essential because they help establish a structured ranking system for amateur golfers who over the period can turn into professionals, and go on to represent Bangladesh on the international stage.
Q 3. Please tell us about your professional journey and current responsibilities as Director General?
I am a proud retired Brigadier General of the Bangladesh Army. After successful completion of nearly 34 years of my colourful service, I went on retirement in 2025. During my military career I was deeply involved in various games and sports and acquired a certain level of standard in badminton, billiard, golf, table tennis and tennis etc. I was given the unique responsibility to perform as the Rector of Bangladesh Golf Academy for consecutive 3 years (2019-2021) and contributed significantly to the development of golf in Bangladesh. I am truly grateful to Chief of Army Staff to appoint me as the Director General of BOA since March 2025. I love this job at BOA and enjoy the challenges to help federations to grow. I am committed to contributing to the development of sports in Bangladesh and supporting various stakeholders within the Olympic purview.
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Q 4. How and when were you first introduced to golf?
I was first introduced to golf during my service at Kholahati in 2009 where I had my maiden exposure to the game. Later in 2012, I became a member of the prestigious Bhatiary Golf & Country Club (BGCC), Chattogram which marked an important milestone in my golfing journey. What began as curiosity gradually grew into a lasting passion. Over the years, through dedication and consistent practice, I was able to improve my game significantly and achieved a single digit handicap in the process. Golf has become much more than a sport for me. I am a keen and a passionate golfer who enjoys both the competitive nature of the game and the continuous challenge of improving my skills.
Q 5. You had a successful tennis career before taking up golf. What inspired you to make the transition?
Yes, I was a well-known tennis player in Bangladesh Army and showed my excellence wherever I served in different cantonments in both singles and doubles. My last major achievement in tennis came in 2023, when I clinched the title ‘singles champion’ at a tournament held in Logistics Area, Dhaka Cantonment defeating the opponent who was 10 years junior to me. Tennis is a game which demands physical fitness and stamina. At the old age, it can’t be played due to danger of injury. Therefore, at one point, I decided to shift my passion and concentrate on golf which I believe at this stage is the ideal sport to pursue.
Q 6. How does golf reflect the challenges and values we experience in everyday life?
Golf is life, and life is golf. This game mirrors many of the challenges, decisions and values that we encounter in our daily lives. It also helps shape one’s character. Every round brings successes and setbacks, teaching us how to remain composed under pressure, recover from mistakes, and continue striving for improvement. Beyond the course, golf teaches us valuable life lessons and contributes to personal and social growth. It encourages sportsmanship, builds relationship, and creates opportunities to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Q 7. How does golf teach the values of integrity, honesty, and self-discipline?
Golf demands human qualities like honesty, integrity, discipline, punctuality, patience, manner & etiquette and respect for others. Unlike many sports, a golfer is responsible to play as per the rules and take penalties by himself even when no one is watching. This emphasis on personal accountability reflects the values that are essential in both personal and professional life. This demands a high level of integrity, honesty, and discipline.
Q 8. How do you balance a demanding career with time on the golf course?
Where there is a will there is way. A keen golfer like me will always find out the time to enjoy golf whenever possible. Because of my professional engagement I can’t play in the afternoon. Therefore, as ‘early bird’ usually I play in the weekends as well as in the weekdays without hampering my officed work. During golf-season, I endeavour to participate in all the tournaments held at Dhaka and elsewhere with my fellow golfers.
