Despite being established 53 years ago, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) still does not own a dedicated stadium. Today, in a significant development, members of the current BFF committee formally requested access to several stadiums during a visit by Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, at the BFF headquarters.
Asif Nazrul reassured the federation officials that three key stadiums would now primarily be allocated for football. These include the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, as well as the district stadiums in Sylhet and Chittagong. However, the allocation comes with a condition: if other sports, excluding cricket, require the stadiums for tournaments or events, BFF must allow their use.
The sports adviser elaborated,
“We have decided that the Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chittagong stadiums will be primarily for football. The only condition is that if other non-cricket tournaments need to be held, the stadiums will be made available for those events.”
BFF President Tabith Awal expressed cautious optimism about securing additional stadiums in the future. Speaking to journalists outside the federation building, he stated,
“We always place our trust in assurances. Starting with just two stadiums, and with collective effort for the country’s and football’s interest, we hope to acquire several more in the near future.”
During the meeting, the BFF committee also discussed their achievements over the past year and presented their strategic plan for the upcoming year to the adviser. Tabith Awal emphasised the importance of continued government support, both financially and in infrastructure development, stating,
“Today, we primarily shared our one-year action plan with the adviser. We hope that the government’s support, in terms of both finance and infrastructure, continues for at least the next year, as this is vital for the growth of football in Bangladesh.”
The following table summarises the key stadiums and their proposed use:
| Stadium | Location | Primary Use | Conditional Use | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangabandhu National Stadium | Dhaka | Football | Other sports except cricket | Approved for BFF use |
| District Stadium | Sylhet | Football | Other sports except cricket | Approved for BFF use |
| District Stadium | Chittagong | Football | Other sports except cricket | Approved for BFF use |
This decision marks a milestone for Bangladeshi football, providing the BFF with formal access to major stadiums for the first time, thereby creating opportunities to strengthen national and district-level football programmes.