Sport activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, performed individually or in a group, often involving the testing of physical capabilities and usually taking the form of a competitive game. The game traditionally played in a country over a long period of time usually becomes the national game of that country through a general consensus of its citizens. The national game in the USA is baseball, in Mexico and Spain it is bullfighting, in England CRICKET, and and in Bangladesh KABADI. Sports are now incorporated in the curricula of most general educational establishments. Sports competitions are organised for encouraging physical development of the sporting communities and establishment of the supremacy of individuals, groups/teams or nations in different sports. These competitions are good means of entertainment and they also contribute effectively to raising funds. Sports organisation in Bangladesh has undergone many changes in different periods before and after its independence. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board was established in 1972. There are 29 registered federations under this board. These include federations for popular games such as football, CRICKET, hockey, tennis, badminton, volleyball, handball, chess, and carom as well as for wrestling, weightlifting, squash, billiard, and snooker, which are less popular in Bangladesh. Other recognised sports organisations in the country are the district and divisional sports organisations, university sports organisations, and the sports bodies of the armed forces, police and ansar, as well as of public sector corporations, boards and departments such as Bangladesh Biman, BJMC, BTMC, PWD, and Bangladesh Railway. Sport clubs have a significant contribution to the development of sports in the country. Prominent among the clubs of Bangladesh are Abahani Krirachakra, Arambag, Ajax, Azad Sporting, Brothers Union, Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting, Dhaka Wanderers, Dilkusha Sporting, GMCC, Kalabagan, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Rahmatganj, Suryatarun, Victoria Sporting, and Wari. Some of these clubs are reputed for their glorious past while others earned a name by excellent performance at national level at present. Abahani Krirachakra was established at dhaka in 1972 through reorganisation of Iqbal Sporting Club. Within a short time, the club gained fame through commendable performances in HOCKEY, CRICKET and FOOTBALL tournaments. In fact, it was a trendsetter in sports in the country. It introduced junior coaching camps on its own initiative and employed foreign trainers in them. Abahani also did a lot to improve FOOTBALL in Bangladesh through new experiments. In the 20 years between 1973 and 1993, Abahani played 16 times in the finals of the national FOOTBALL league. It finished as champion eight times (1974, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990) and as runner up on as many occasions (1973, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993). The club was champion in the Federation Cup FOOTBALL in 1982, 1985, 1986 and 1989 and runner up in 1981, 1983, 1990 and 1993. In the Asia Cup Club Tournament held in 1985 in Sri Lanka, Abahani was the runner up and it was Champion in the Nagji Trophy FOOTBALL Tournament held in India in 1990. Between 1973 and 1993, Abahani became the champion of Dhaka's first division CRICKET league eleven times and runner up on five occasions. In the Damal Summer CRICKET Tournament, Abahani became champion in 1980-81 and 1984-85 and runner up in 1982-83 and 1985-86. The club was champion in the Shaheed Smriti CRICKET Tournament in 1977-78, 1981-82 and 1984-85 and in the Star Summer CRICKET Tournament in 1980-81 and 1984-85. It finished the Alpha Cup CRICKET as champion in 1982-83 and as runner up in 1983-84. The club became champion in the first division HOCKEY league in 1977, 1978, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1985-86, 1988-89 and 1993-94, and was runner up in 1977-78, 1979-80, 1981-82 and 1987-88. The club was champion in the Shaheed Smriti HOCKEY Tournament in 1973 and 1974 and runner up in 1976, 1977 and 1979. It was champion in the Independence Cup HOCKEY Tournament in 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1979 and runner up in 1973 and 1985.

Referance: Bangla Pedia