Arif Khan Joy, the former national football captain and current vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation, has been made a deputy minister and given the portfolio of the ministry of youth and sports at Bangabhaban yesterday.
Joy became the first former sports person to be appointed as a minister in sports ministry. He will work under Biren Shikder, who has been appointed as the state minister.
The shaven-headed booter represented the national team from 2003 to 2008 and was a vital member of the country's SAFF Championship winning squad. He captained the national team over 2005-06.