Name Change for Top-Tier Football League After Over a Decade

Bangladesh’s premier domestic football competition has undergone a historic rebranding. After more than a decade, the Bangladesh Premier Football League (BPFL) has been renamed the Bangladesh Football League (BFL).

The decision was finalised on Tuesday (24 September) following an emergency meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Executive Committee, after consultation with the clubs.

The renaming marks another milestone in the journey of Bangladesh’s top-tier football league. Since its inception, the competition has gone through several title changes:

During Wednesday’s BFF emergency executive meeting, various views were exchanged before it was decided that club representatives would be consulted. In the afternoon, following input from clubs, BFF President Tabith Awal and League Committee Chairman Imrul Hassan formally approved the new name: Bangladesh Football League (BFL).

The Professional League Committee had earlier recommended the change, arguing that it would provide a fresh branding identity.

Reasons Behind the Change

1. Branding Strategy: According to federation sources, the renaming is part of efforts to rebrand and elevate the league’s profile.
2. Avoiding Confusion: The acronym BPL often caused confusion with cricket’s hugely popular Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Fans searching for football often ended up with cricket-related results.
3. New Identity: With a new name comes a redesigned logo, ensuring a clearer distinction and revitalised image.

The new season is set to commence tomorrow, with matches to be held across two venues in Munshiganj and Manikganj. However, the rebranding decision, taken only 24 hours before the start, has sparked a rush to produce updated banners, boards, and promotional materials featuring the new name and logo.

Over recent seasons, Bashundhara Group has served as the league’s main sponsor. This year, however, sponsorship will see a change. The BFF Marketing Committee has reportedly advanced negotiations with a new sponsor, though no official announcement has yet been made, despite the league’s imminent kick-off.

As the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) begins under its new identity, both fans and organisers are eager to see whether the rebranding will deliver the intended boost for domestic football. The decision reflects a broader ambition: to strengthen football’s visibility in a country where cricket often dominates the sporting landscape.