Domestic football is set to return to the historic Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka after a five-year hiatus. The iconic venue was closed for extensive renovation works following a high-profile match between Abahani Limited and Bashundhara Kings on 20 September 2021. Although the stadium reopened to host international fixtures after the upgrades were completed, domestic club football has remained absent from its pitch. That drought will end on 24 November, when Fortis FC take on Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in a Federation Cup fixture.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) unveiled the official tournament schedule and conducted the group-stage draw at its headquarters. Thirteen top-tier teams have been divided into two groups for the competition.
Group A features Abahani Limited, Fortis FC, Rahmatganj, Brothers Union, Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club, and Chattogram City FC. Group B consists of Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, PWD Sports Club, Arambagh Krira Sangha, City Club, and Dhaka Wanderers Club.
According to the official schedule released prior to the draw, seven group-stage matches will take place at the National Stadium, with the venue also slated to host the knockout stage encounters. Imrul Hasan, chairman of the BFF League Committee, confirmed the details during the draw ceremony.
Beyond the capital, three regional grounds will share hosting duties for the tournament: the Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, the Gopalganj District Stadium, and the Shaheed Miraj-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj. The overall tournament will kick off on 22 September in Gopalganj with an opening match between Fortis FC and Fakirerpool Young Men’s Club.
The announcement comes amidst scheduling friction between the federation and top-flight clubs. On 8 September, ten leading clubs submitted a joint letter to the BFF expressing concern over anticipated disruptions to the domestic calendar. They highlighted that national team training camps, official FIFA international windows, the SAFF Championship, and the AFC Challenge League would lead to prolonged breaks in the Bangladesh Football League and the Federation Cup, impacting player fitness and club finances.
Despite these reservations, the League Committee decided to proceed with its original schedule, setting 18 September for the league kickoff and 22 September for the Federation Cup without prior consultations. Addressing the conflict, Imrul Hasan stated that committee officials intend to discuss the clubs’ concerns with the BFF president before convening a meeting with club representatives to resolve the matter.
