The Bangladesh government has officially recognized esports as a sport, a move long-awaited by the country's gaming community. This decision has been particularly gratifying for Khaza Md. Anas Khan, the Country Manager for GIGABYTE, a leading technology brand. A gamer, entrepreneur, and community builder, Anas Khan has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to promote esports in Bangladesh. He views this recognition as a pivotal moment that will unlock immense potential.
"First, I want to express my gratitude," said Anas Khan, reflecting on the news. "For a long time, gamers have been looking for a place of confidence, and now it has arrived. We have been working with WCG (World Cyber Games) since 2004-05. Today, we are seeing the fruits of that labor."
Anas Khan also spoke about the long journey to achieve government recognition. "Gamers, the community, students from various universities–we all have been working on this for a very long time. Receiving this recognition from the Ministry of Youth and Sports is a historic moment. The next step is its implementation."
He believes that esports is no longer just a game but is ready to evolve into a full-fledged industry and profession. "Since it has been recognized as a sport, organizing national leagues and including it in annual sports competitions at schools, colleges, and universities is now a matter of urgency."
Anas Khan and his team are ready to collaborate with the government on this initiative. "We are always ready. I have been working on this for 20 years. If the government calls upon us, we will certainly work together." While acknowledging that government processes can be slow, Khan remains optimistic. "Esports is no longer just about computer games; mobile gaming is a huge part of it. The network, hardware, ISP–everything is connected. It will only be possible to implement this with a comprehensive plan for the entire technology ecosystem."
Anas Khan's vision is to make esports a viable and respected profession. "Just like cricket and football, this can also be a profession. Our young people are already participating in various international tournaments and earning a good income through gaming. We need to train them, develop them, and bring them into the limelight."
He also shared his personal perspective as a parent. "I am a father myself. If I see talent in my son for gaming, why would I not give him the opportunity? However, this must not come at the cost of academics. It must happen within the academic framework."
The relationship between GIGABYTE and esports is inseparable. According to Anas Khan, "Gamers have made the biggest contribution to GIGABYTE's success. Motherboards, graphics cards, and monitors, we have developed everything with gamers in mind. Our AI-based laptops and gaming monitors are all for this community."
Regarding the esports market in Bangladesh, he said, "I don't think it's too small, nor do I think it's very big yet. Now that the government has given its recognition, we will have a clearer picture of its actual size once it takes on an institutional form. However, the number of gamers is close to a million."
Anas Khan concluded that this is no longer a time for dreaming but for turning those dreams into reality. "We want to work in coordination with everyone. This is a team effort. With everyone's cooperation, esports in Bangladesh will one day reach a level of national pride."
