After a 34-day hiatus following the conclusion of the second round on 20 October, domestic football in Bangladesh is set to resume. National team commitments had kept clubs off the field, but tomorrow four matches across four venues will mark the start of the third round of the Bangladesh Football League.
The headline clash will be the traditional rivalry between Abahani and Mohammedan. Mohammedan, who ended a 22-year wait by winning last season’s league title, have had a sluggish start this term, picking up just one point from two games. Abahani’s campaign has been similarly disappointing. Both sides will be aiming for all three points in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter. However, tensions loom as Mohammedan players have issued an ultimatum over unpaid wages, adding an off-field subplot to the fixture.
Other matches tomorrow include Fortis against Police at the Kings Arena, Bashundhara Kings versus Arambagh in Manikganj, and Fakirerpool Youngmens facing Brothers Union in Munshiganj. On the following day, Rahmatganj will play PWD in the only third-round fixture.
Although the Premier League season began on 26 September, the league’s official logo has not been used until now. From tomorrow’s matches onwards, the logo will feature on all official branding, sponsored by United Group’s brand Petronas.
The new logo, released two months into the season, has faced some criticism from fans who find it underwhelming. Fahad Karim, chairman of the BFF marketing committee, defended the design, stating that the logo was created with care and that any similarities with other apps or brands are purely coincidental.
Tomorrow’s fixtures mark not only the return of competitive football but also the league’s effort to establish a stronger professional identity with official branding.