Annual Sports Competition, Beach Carnival kicks off in Cox's Bazar

With the aim of ensuring child protection, preventing gender-based violence, and empowering adolescent girls through sports, the three-day 'Annual Sports Competition & Beach Carnival 2025' has commenced in Cox's Bazar.  Organized by JAAGO Foundation Trust in collaboration with UNICEF under the 'Shopner Sharothi - Sea Shore Girls' project, the festival was officially inaugurated on Monday morning at the Hotel Seagull premises in Cox's Bazar.

Starting from December 15, the flagship carnival of the Shopner Sharothi "Sea Shore Girls" project will continue till December 17, running daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  This year's carnival is themed "Child Safety, Preventing Gender-Based Violence, and Girls' Empowerment through Sports for Development," highlighting the role of sports as a transformative tool for protection, confidence-building, and social change.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Mohammad Golam Mostafa, District Education Officer of Cox's Bazar; Md. Moazzem Hossain, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Development, Cox's Bazar; Md. Alauddin, District Sports Officer of Cox's Bazar; and Anisur Rahman, representing the Tourist Police, Cox's Bazar, as invited guests.

Korvi Rakshand, Founder and Executive Director of JAAGO Foundation Trust, presided over the event, while representatives from UNICEF were present as honored guests. The program began with the hoisting of the National Flag accompanied by the National Anthem, followed by a collective child protection pledge by all participants.

The festival featured an art competition on child rights and gender equality, an awareness-raising puppet show, and a vibrant cultural performance by the local musical band 'Penoa'.