Draft Constitutional Amendments to Be Discussed at BFF Executive Meeting

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will hold its fourth Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, 23 August. Among the 11 items on the agenda, one key topic is the proposed amendment of the BFF Constitution.

A three-member committee was previously formed to oversee the constitutional reform, and its draft report will be presented during the 23 August meeting.

Background of BFF Constitutional Reform

After discussion and approval in the executive meeting, the draft will be presented at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for final approval.

Comparison with Other Sports Organisations

Two other major national sports bodies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), have also undertaken constitutional reforms.

• BCB: Reform efforts stalled due to criticism from club cricket organisers; the upcoming BCB elections are expected to follow the existing constitution.
• BOA: Most work on the constitution is complete and now awaits IOC and AGM approval. BOA elections are scheduled for November, leaving only two to three months to decide whether to adopt the new constitution or retain the existing one.

Pending Committees and Governance Issues

The Referees Committee, an essential part of football governance, has not yet been formed, even though the constitutional reform committee has been active for 10 months.

• The committee formation was listed as an agenda item in the third Executive Committee meeting in March, but no decision was reached.
• It will now be raised again in the 23 August meeting.

Financial Matters on the Agenda

• Home matches in June 2025: Bangladesh hosted Bhutan and Singapore at Dhaka Stadium; the income and expenditure report from these matches will be presented.
• Audit report 2024: The committee will review and approve it.
• National Championship funding: The National Sports Council has already provided BDT 50 million for hosting the championship, with another BDT 50 million expected.

To ensure financial transparency, the current BFF committee plans to open a separate bank account for the National Championship. Signatories will include the President, Senior Vice-President, Vice-President Naser Shahriar Zahedi, and General Secretary.

Additional Agenda Items

• Procurement Policy: Updates and discussions on compliance.
• FIFA Forward 3.0 CEO Integration: Operational and administrative aspects.

The General Secretary has formally circulated the meeting agenda and invitation letters to all Executive Committee members. Notably, this year members have been invited to propose additional agenda items by 20 August, a departure from the past practice where the General Secretary determined the agenda solely under the President’s direction.

The meeting is scheduled from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on 23 August, though the venue has not been finalised. Previously, an urgent meeting at Jalsiri faced protest as one member did not attend. This time, most members prefer the meeting to be held at the BFF headquarters.