The curtain has officially fallen on the latest edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) football season. Following a competitive cycle involving ten participating clubs, the league concluded yesterday with a familiar narrative: the overwhelming dominance of foreign recruits in the goalscoring charts. Bashundhara Kings secured the league title with a round to spare, while Dhaka Abahani Limited claimed the runners-up spot following a 4–0 victory over Arambagh on the final day of proceedings.
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Foreign Dominance in Goalscoring
As has been the historical trend in Bangladeshi domestic football, overseas strikers occupied the top positions on the leaderboard. Dorielton Gomes, the Brazilian talisman for Bashundhara Kings, finished as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals. He was followed by Omar Babu, the Gambian forward representing Fortis FC, who netted 13 times. Souleymane Diabate, the Malian striker for Abahani, secured the third position with 11 goals.
In contrast, the output from local Bangladeshi players remained modest. The highest-scoring domestic players were Foysal Ahmed Fahim (Bashundhara Kings) and Shekh Morsalin (Abahani), both of whom scored 6 goals. Other notable local contributions came from Al-Amin and Rakib Hossain, who managed 3 goals each.
| Rank | Player | Nationality | Club | Goals |
| 1st | Dorielton Gomes | Brazil | Bashundhara Kings | 19 |
| 2nd | Omar Babu | Gambia | Fortis FC | 13 |
| 3rd | Souleymane Diabate | Mali | Dhaka Abahani | 11 |
| 4th | Four Overseas Players | Various | Various | 7 (each) |
| Local | Foysal Ahmed Fahim | Bangladesh | Bashundhara Kings | 6 |
| Local | Shekh Morsalin | Bangladesh | Dhaka Abahani | 6 |
Historical Continuity of Overseas Superiority
The reliance on foreign talent for offensive production is a recurring theme in the BPL. In the preceding season, Samuel Boateng of Ghana, playing for Rahmatganj MFS, led the charts with 21 goals, followed by Souleymane Diabate with 19. Similarly, in the 2023–24 season, the top three scorers were exclusively foreign: Cornelius Stewart (19 goals), Diabate (17 goals), and Dorielton (14 goals).
Operational Challenges and International Commitments
The season spanned eight months, characterized by frequent interruptions. Delays were attributed to the national team’s international fixtures and the schedule of the national elections. While matches were hosted across four venues outside of Dhaka, players expressed dissatisfaction regarding the quality of the pitches provided.
Despite the league’s conclusion, footballing activities continue as the national team prepares for a friendly against San Marino on 5 June. The newly appointed national coach, Thomas Dooley, arrived in Dhaka the day before yesterday to oversee preparations, which are set to commence within the next 48 hours.
AFC Challenge League Licensing Complications
A complex situation has arisen regarding qualification for the AFC Challenge League. Under standard regulations, the champions and runners-up represent the nation in continental competition. However, both Bashundhara Kings and Dhaka Abahani Limited are currently facing FIFA transfer bans regarding player registration.
Consequently, as Fortis FC and Police FC have successfully met the AFC Club Licensing criteria and are not under such restrictions, they may be selected to represent Bangladesh in the upcoming international tournament. This administrative deadlock remains a significant post-season development for the domestic game.