Before the Liberation War, we never thought that Bangalee girls will play football besides boys. Not only that, but they will also represent the country in the international football arena and will bring honour to the country. We never thought that our girls will fly the national flag. It has become possible due to our liberation. In independent Bangladesh, girls got the chance to expand their merit and go forward in other games besides football.

We see that the young generation is coming into the field of sports with serious interest and inspiration. They are our reliance. I believe that these youths won’t stop the journey of the country’s sports. But it is a matter of great sorrow that girls are not getting proper cooperation and protection in sports. In this reality,  Bashundhara Group extended its hands to women's sports.

Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and ABG Limited Sayem Sobhan Anvir signed on behalf of sponsor ABG Limited while FIFA Council Member, BFF Executive Committee member and BFF Women’s Wing Chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron on behalf of the federation. 

About the agreement, Bashundhara Group high official and Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan said, “We will bear all expenses of women’s football league, national and international competitions and BFF camps. We are giving sponsorship, not for publicity. We just want to see women's football in a state. Women’s football is a little bit better than men’s. If they get a little bit of support, they will go for a long way that we believe in.”

Not only women’s football, but Bashundhara Group is also patronising every event organised by Bangladesh Football Federation.

The positive side of the country’s sports is it has crossed age and class discrimination. People from all classes in society are coming to the sports. They are playing sports and want something for the well-being of the country’s sports. They will take forward sports and the sports will get a new dream of colour.  

The duration of Banglalee women’s football is less than three eras. On the other hand, women have been playing football in India for more than eight eras.  The Bangalee girls of West Bengal in India never represented their state. In this case, Bangladeshi girls are very lucky that they are getting a chance to represent a nation. People are getting their country in the fight for women footballers. 

The senior women's football team of Bangladesh has become the champions in South Asian Football in the last year which is a milestone in women's football. This victory has ensured confidence, courage, inspiration and a specific message for the future.

There is needed a basic change in women's football as it has a deficiency in quality work. Only the football federation thinks about women’s football. No other means here. But why?  Worldwide clubs patronise football. Clubs which play premier football, keeping women’s team is mandatory for them besides men’s team.  Surprisingly, clubs playing in Bangladesh Premier Football show their negligence to patronise women’s football.  They think forming a women’s team is an additional burden. The only exception is Bashundhara Kings. This club formed a women’s team for the last three years and has been playing import role to expand women’s football by providing them with various facilities including training.

Women’s football needs the financial support most. Bashundhara Kings, owned by Bashundhara Group is providing financial support regularly. This financial support is very much needed for the families of the maximum number of women footballers.

If other big clubs form women’s teams and take part in the league regularly and work with them, then, the country’s women's sports would have benefited. Women footballers would get more chances, and more women would have shown their interest in centering football. Many players would have financially benefitted from playing football.

We have seen that women footballers have already crossed men footballers in age-based football. If women footballers would have gotten a chance to play in big clubs and other tournaments, their capacity would have increased effectively. If we can create a women-friendly football space with the cooperation of all, then we will see a change in the next five years and a massive change after 10 years. The country’s sports arena is always supported changes. 

The country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group always believes in the equality of men and women in all social activities from the very first day. There is no discrimination or differentiation in the Bashundhara Kings men's and women's teams. Two teams are conducted under a president with discipline. Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan is always aware of the equal rights of men and women footballers.

A few days ago, Imrul Hassan said, “Bashundhara Kings doesn’t want to get its introduction only as a club. It wants to keep an effective positive contribution to the country’s total football and its development. Bashundhara Kings is working to fill up this target.”

Constructing a modern stadium is not only for Bashundhara Kings but also for the greater interest of the country’s football.  Work is going on to construct a separate field for women besides the stadium in the sports complex. Hope, the work in the field will be completed within the next two months. The activity of the field will start after completing the construction work of the academy building with modern facilities. Hope, Bashundhara Kings could meet the local players’ demand from this academy. Besides, Bashundhara Kings could sell its players to other clubs. Bashundhara’s activities are just for the country’s football, its development and progress.

The dream of Bashundhara Group owners will be possible as they believe in this.  The group wants Bashundhara Kings to run with a professional attitude, good governance and accountability.

Like the men’s team, Bashundhara Kings' women’s team becomes the champions in the women league three times in a row. Bashundhara Kings got three ‘stars’ on the jersey of the men's and women's teams.  No club in the country gets such kind of success sponsored by a corporate organisation in the history of Bangladesh football.

The success of the women's team is more charming. Bashundhara Kings women’s team becomes the hat-trick champions in the women league in a row without losing any points which is a record in the sub-continent.  Bashundhara Kings' women’s team starts a new era in the football of the sub-continent. The ‘brand image’ and popularity of Bashundhara Kings has increased further for this achievement. The sponsorship deal between ABG Bashundhara and BFF will play an important role in the development of the country’s women's football.

* The writer is a columnist, analyst, and former vice president of AIPS Asia.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of Kaler Kantho on 28 January, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.