Youth and Sports Ministry Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiya has clarified that the government’s plan to train nearly 9,000 young men and women aims to strengthen national sovereignty and public defence, not to create any militia or armed force. The project will provide judo, karate, taekwondo, and shooting lessons to participants aged 18–35 at BKSP, with 100 training slots over two years and a budget of Tk 28 crore. Addressing public criticism and rumours, Asif said the training involves air guns, not military weapons, and that participants will return to their normal jobs after completion. He alleged that certain “India-leaning groups” are spreading misinformation to discredit the initiative. Emphasising that the program is a pilot project for crisis readiness, he said it aligns with the government’s policy of empowering citizens to defend the nation if ever needed.