“In sha’ Allah, we’ll win”: Hamza Chowdhury Lands in Bangladesh, Visits Ancestral Home in Habiganj

Hamza Dewan Choudhury, the Bangladeshi-origin English Premier League (EPL) footballer, has finally set foot in Bangladesh, marking an emotional homecoming ahead of his international debut for the national team.

Included in Bangladesh’s 30-member preliminary squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers, Hamza landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at 11:45 AM today on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Manchester, UK.

Speaking to the media outside the airport, an elated Hamza described his return as a “long time coming” and expressed his excitement about representing Bangladesh on the international stage.

“It feels incredible. My heart is pumped,” he said, beaming with excitement as hundreds of fans chanted his name.

Hamza will make his Bangladesh debut against India in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Shillong on March 25. The midfielder is hopeful of starting his international career with a win.

“In sha’ Allah, we will win,” he said in his Sylheti dialect, adding that he has had detailed discussions with head coach Javier Cabrera about his role in the team.

Officials from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) greeted Hamza at the airport with flowers.

After arriving in Sylhet, Hamza is traveling to his ancestral home in Bahubal upazila, Habiganj, to spend time with family. He is expected to head to Dhaka on Tuesday or Wednesday to join the Bangladesh national team camp.

Hamza is expected to return to London on March 28 after completing his international duty.