Despite being established 53 years ago, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) still lacks ownership of any dedicated stadium. Today, during a visit to the BFF headquarters, members of the current committee formally requested access to several key stadiums from Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Assuring the BFF officials, Nazrul confirmed that Dhaka’s National Stadium, Sylhet District Stadium, and Chittagong District Stadium would now be fully available for football purposes. However, this access comes with a specific condition: the stadiums may be used for other sports events, excluding cricket, if necessary.
The Sports Adviser stated, “We have decided to grant Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chittagong stadiums primarily for football. The condition is that if there is a requirement to host tournaments of other sports, except cricket, permission will be allowed.”
BFF President Tabith Awal expressed optimism about obtaining additional stadiums in the near future. Speaking to journalists outside the BFF headquarters, he said, “We always place our faith in assurances. With everyone’s cooperation and for the sake of the country and football, we are starting with just two stadiums. In the future, we hope to gain access to more.”
During the meeting, the BFF committee discussed its one-year success plan and future strategies with Adviser Asif Nazrul. The discussions also highlighted the importance of ongoing government support, both financially and in terms of infrastructure. Tabith Awal emphasised, “Today we shared our upcoming one-year action plan with the Adviser. We hope that government assistance, both financial and infrastructural, will continue at least for the next year.”
The following table summarises the stadiums granted for football use and the conditions applied:
| Stadium | Location | Primary Use | Conditional Use Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Stadium | Dhaka | Football | Other sports allowed, excluding cricket |
| Sylhet District Stadium | Sylhet | Football | Other sports allowed, excluding cricket |
| Chittagong District Stadium | Chittagong | Football | Other sports allowed, excluding cricket |
This development marks a significant step forward for Bangladeshi football. For over five decades, lack of proper infrastructure has limited regular football development and professional tournament hosting. With these stadiums, the BFF can now plan national and district-level competitions, providing athletes with better facilities and visibility.
The federation remains hopeful that sustained government cooperation will ensure long-term progress, helping elevate the standard of football across Bangladesh.