Mas-wrestling takes center stage at Dhaka Ethnosport Seminar 2026

The event brought together more than 200 students from leading educational institutions across the Dhaka Division, highlighting the growing interest of Bangladeshi youth in traditional and ethnosports.

The seminar was organized by the International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association (IEBA) with the aim of introducing young people to traditional sports and games while promoting cultural understanding, discipline, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles.

The opening ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Ramis Şen, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Bangladesh, who emphasized the importance of traditional sports in preserving cultural heritage, supporting youth development, and strengthening international friendship through sports diplomacy.

In his welcome remarks, Md. Al Mamun, President of the International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association, Bangladesh Representative to the International Mas-Wrestling Federation, Russia, a renowned international sports diplomat & organizer and one of the pioneering figures in the development and promotion of ethnosports in Bangladesh. highlighted the growing popularity ethnosport incliding Mas-Wrestling in Bangladesh. He noted that the sport has become an important platform for youth engagement and international sporting exchange, creating new opportunities for Bangladeshi athletes to participate in global competitions.

The programme was attended by distinguished representatives from diplomatic missions and international organizations, including Ms. Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka; Md Ekramul Kabir, Vice President, International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association and Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Mr. İslam Güre, General Manager of Turkish Airlines in Dhaka; Mr. Muhammed Ali Armağan, Coordinator of TİKA in Bangladesh; Mr. Özgür Özyürek, Religious Services Coordinator, Embassy of Türkiye in Bangladesh; Мр. Iqbal Hasan Chowdhury Jewel, Advisor of International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association & Managing Director of JCX Group; Mr. Sofia Kutepova, press secretary, Embassy of Russia in Bangladesh; and other invited guests. The event was presided over by Brigadier General S. M. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Principal of Manarat Dhaka International School & College.

Over the past decade, Bangladesh has made significant progress in promoting Mas-Wrestling through national championships, training programmes, and participation in international events. The seminar reflected the continued efforts of the International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association to develop the sport at the grassroots level and inspire a new generation of athletes.

The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding Mas-Wrestling and other traditional sports throughout Bangladesh while strengthening cooperation with the international Mas-Wrestling community and promoting friendship through sport.