Rajshahi Stars sealed a historic Women’s Football League title with a commanding 3–0 victory over Bangladesh Army Football Team in the final round, needing only a point to lift the trophy while their opponents required victory to force a play-off. The decider, staged at the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Sipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, was tight and cagey before the interval as both sides prioritised defensive solidity. The deadlock broke shortly after the restart, and Rajshahi’s superiority thereafter proved decisive.
The champions’ story is remarkable not merely for the silverware, but for the manner of its acquisition. Competing in the top tier for the first time, Rajshahi Stars won all 10 league fixtures, recorded 10 clean sheets and conceded not a single goal across the campaign. Their attacking output was equally extraordinary: 90 goals in 10 matches, an average of nine per game. While unbeaten seasons are not unprecedented in domestic leagues, a perfect defensive record alongside such prolific scoring is vanishingly rare in elite competition.
Rajshahi set the tone on opening day by dismantling the reigning champions Nasrin Sports Academy 12–0. Heavy wins followed against BKSP, Bangladesh Police Football Team and Bangladesh Ansar Football Team, before an eye-catching 24–0 rout of Jamalpur Kachharipara XI underlined the gulf in class. The only narrow victory came against Farashganj Sporting Club (1–0), who would later finish runners-up after losing just once all season—against the champions.
The title-clinching match followed a familiar pattern. After a goalless first half, Surabhi Akand Priti’s low cross in the 48th minute evaded the goalkeeper and was converted at the far post by Alpi Akter for her 30th league goal, propelling her beyond Shamsun Nahar Junior in the Golden Boot race. Ten minutes later, Shahida Akter Ripa volleyed home from Rituparna Chakma’s delivery, and Rituparna herself added a late third to confirm the crown. The latter two reached double figures for the season, finishing with 10 goals apiece—evidence of a balanced attack rather than reliance on a single scorer.
Rajshahi Stars: Season at a Glance
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 10 |
| Wins | 10 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Goals scored | 90 |
| Goals conceded | 0 |
| Clean sheets | 10 |
| Goals per match (average) | 9.0 |
| Top scorer | Alpi Akter (30) |
Farashganj Sporting Club ended second after defeating Bangladesh Ansar in the final round, while Bangladesh Army finished third following defeat in the decider. Beyond domestic glory, Rajshahi’s triumph carries wider significance. Qualification for AFC and SAFF club competitions offers Bangladeshi women’s football a long-awaited pathway to continental exposure. In recent years, structural limitations have curtailed direct participation, compelling elite Bangladeshi players to seek opportunities with clubs abroad. Rajshahi Stars’ flawless debut season now stands as both a benchmark for the domestic league and a beacon for the sport’s international aspirations.
