Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was named sportsperson of the year 2024 during a colourful Kool-BSPA Sports Award 2024 ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on Friday.

Miraz beat national women's team midfielder Ritu Porna Chakma and archer Sagor Islam, who achieved direct qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics, to win the prestigious award.

Ritu, however, won the popular choice award for her contribution in the women's team's SAFF Championship triumph last year. Ritu beat Miraz and new pace sensation Nahid Rana to bag the award. She was also named the footballer of the year.

Rana, meanwhile, won the emerging sportsperson of the year award.

During the two-and-a-half-hour programme, a total of 13 athletes, teams, and organisations were recognised in 15 different categories in the presence of hundreds of current and former athletes, coaches, administrators and organisers of the country's sports fraternity.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and managing director of Square Toiletries Limited Anjan Chowdhury were present in the grand ceremony as the guest of honour.

Sportsperson of the year Miraz said, "I like to thank BSPA for arranging a programme like this every year. This ceremony is very important for every athlete. We can meet and talk with players from other sports such as hockey, football, etc. It feels really good."

Meanwhile, footballer Ritu couldn't attend the programme as she is playing in the Bhutan League.

In a video message, she said, "I like to thank BSPA for honouring me. I couldn't attend the programme due to my matches in Bhutan. I'm missing not being here. This prize will inspire me to perform even better in the coming days."

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif feels that the award will inspire the athletes to weave bigger dreams.

"This will inspire the athletes to dream big in the coming days. You all know that the interim government is working really hard for a radical change in the sports sector. We are working on restructuring and reforming the sports sector," said Asif during his speech.

"We have many challenges ahead of us. We have requested the government to provide more incentives in the sports sector given the shortage of the sports budget," he added.

Managing director of Square Toiletries Limited Anjan said, "I'm very happy that we have been with BSPA for 12 years. We will stay with BSPA as long as they want. We have our adviser here and I would like to request him to pay attention to the sports in the district. I hope everyone will stay with the sports fraternity."

Winners at Kool-BSPA Sports Award 2024

Sportsperson of the year:

Champion: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Cricket)

Runner-up: Ritu Porna Chakma (Football) and Sagor Islam (Archery)

Popular choice award:

Ritu Porna Chakma (Football)

Cricketer of the year: Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Footballer of the year: Ritu Porna Chakma

Archer of the year: Md Sagor Islam

Athlete (Track and Field) of the year: Jahir Rayhan

Emerging sportsperson of the year: Nahid Rana (Cricket)

Chess player of the year: Manon Reja Neer

Team of the year: U-21 National Hockey Team (for qualifying to the Junior World Cup)

Organization of the year: Shams Ul Huda Football Academy, Jashore

Coach of the year: Moududur Rahman Shuvo (Hockey)

Grassroots sports personality of the year: Birsen Chakma (Football organizer, Rangamati)

Organizer of the year: Md Imrul Hassan (President, Bashundhara Kings)

Umpire of the year: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat

Special recognition: Hamidul Islam (2010 SA Games gold medalist weightlifter)