The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) yesterday held its maiden Annual General Meeting since its inception in 1979, with BOA president and army chief General Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Haque in chair and 49 members of the general assembly present, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Even though the tenure of the executive committee of BOA expired in late January this year, the committee hosted the AGM to approve some financial statements where four years' (2012 – 2016) financial reports were approved.

The meeting also approved a budget worth Tk 11.36 crore for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

BOA secretary general Sayeed Shahed Reza later appraised reporters of the outcomes of the meeting at a press briefing at the BOA auditorium.

“To ensure the transparency of my four-year-tenure, we organised the AGM for the first time in BOA's history and I'm really happy to do so,” Reza told reporters.

Reza also earmarked three things which he believes were successes of his tenure. Even though Bangladesh's performance in last year's South Asian Games was rather disappointing, Reza claimed that he did something exceptional in his tenure.

“We hosted the Bangladesh Games after 11 years is was very pleasing. We even sent teams to different events using fund from our own coffers and those teams did well.

“We have also proposed a Games Village for accommodation of athletes during different local and international sports events. I and the sports minister have already spoken to the Prime Minister about this and we are looking for land for that project. If it takes shape sometime in future, it will have a great impact on our sport,” Reza said.

The former ambassador also informed that they have already formed a three-member election commission to conduct the upcoming election.

“I didn't have any intention to hold on to the chair which is why we formed an election commission led by BKSP director general Brigadier General Shamsur Rahman,” Reza said.

Meanwhile, Kazi Razibuddin Ahmed Chapal, treasurer of BOA, informed that the reserve of BOA's bank account increased to Tk 45 crore, Tk 21 crore more than what it was when they took over in 2012.