With Pakistan having announced a new schedule for South Asian Games from January 23 to 31 next year, Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is planning to start preparation camp for athletes in April, subject to release of government fund.

The 14th edition of the regional multi-sports extravaganza is likely to feature 28 disciplines, and Bangladesh is planning to participate in 25 of those disciplines following a nine-month residential camp.

The BOA has made a draft plan to start the camp with nearly 850 athletes as well as 150 coaches and officials and chalked up a budget worth Tk 35 crore for the camp and for appointing foreign coaches.

"We have decided in principle to start the preparation camp after Eid-ul-Firt and we have already asked federations to take their initial preparation to start training. We are going to submit a training budget to the ministry soon," BOA's training committee secretary and treasurer AK Sarkar told The Daily Star on Monday.

Before the SA Games, Bangladesh will take part in Asian Youth Games in October and Islamic Solidarity Games in November while it also has a plan to hold the Bangladesh Games in October.

"We need a big budget to prepare athletes for the three international meets. We think the athletes will be able to take part in both Islamic Solidarity Games and SA Games with the same preparation but we need separate preparation for the Asian Youth Games as only athletes aged below 17 are eligible in the youth games," Sarkar said.

It has been learnt that BOA made a draft budget of Tk 40 crore for the preparation of the three events.

Asked whether they would start the training depending on receiving fund from the government, BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza said, "We will consult with honourable BOA president [Waker-Uz-Zaman] and take action as per his instructions."

It has been learnt that the BOA needs Tk 13 lakh per day to conduct training, having decided to increase meal budget to Tk 650 per day from Tk 600 per day given for the 2019 SA Games and set Tk 400 as pocket money per day, plus costs of transport and accommodation for the athletes and coaches.