Grassroots to Global: Sukanta Majumdar Initiative Sends Rural Bengal Footballer to Sri Lanka

January 16, 2026     Times of Dakshin Dinajpur 

Empowering Rural Talent

Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat

In a significant boost to grassroots sports development in rural Bengal, Muktadir Alam, a Class VI student from Chenchra village in the Tapan block of South Dinajpur district, has earned international exposure after being selected for advanced football training in Sri Lanka. The young footballer was scouted during a football tournament organised by Balurghat MP and Union Minister Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, aimed at identifying hidden talent from remote areas.

The tournament, held at the Balurghat Town Club ground, drew nearly 450 young footballers from across the district. A reputed football coach from Mumbai was engaged to evaluate players, ultimately selecting nine promising footballers for professional training abroad. Muktadir became the first among them to begin the overseas training programme.

Explaining the vision behind the initiative, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar said the programme was designed to bring rural and marginalised talent into the national and international sports spotlight.

“Through this tournament, we selected nine footballers with the help of an experienced coach from Mumbai who will soon undergo training overseas. Muktadir met me on January 2 and informed me that he would be leaving for Sri Lanka shortly. I firmly believe that after receiving international training, these children will contribute significantly to the future of football in Bengal and India,” he said.

 

For Muktadir, whose father Matiur Rahman is a school teacher, the opportunity represents the fulfilment of a dream nurtured far from elite urban football academies. “I was selected during the football event organised by MP Sukanta Majumdar at the Balurghat Town Club ground,” Muktadir said. “I left for abroad on the 13th for football training. Before that, I trained in Mumbai for seven days. I met the MP before leaving.”

Expressing pride in his son’s achievement, Mr. Rahman said,“From the age of four or five, his dream has been to become a footballer. Out of 450 players, my son was selected for overseas training through this tournament. That itself is a matter of great joy for our family.”

Adding another milestone to his journey, Muktadir has now reached Sri Lanka for training. Upon arriving in Colombo, he met the Indian High Commissioner and participated in an official programme.Observers say initiatives spearheaded by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar are not only opening international doors for rural youth but are also reshaping the sporting identity of South Dinajpur. Muktadir’s journey from a remote village to the football fields of Colombo stands as a powerful example of how focused leadership and grassroots sports platforms can transform aspirations in India’s most distant regions.