Bangladesh National Women’s Football Team, which clinched the seven-nation SAFF Championship beating host Nepal in the final, are all set to receive a grand reception upon their arrival from Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Bashundhara Group, the country’s largest industrial conglomerate, has decided to accord a reception to the women’s football team next month for bringing glory for the nation.
FFF first vice-president and Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan on Tuesday said Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, who has been patronising the country’s sports for a long time, took the decision to honour the players.
“Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has decided to accord a reception to our women’s team next month for clinching the SAFF Championship,” Imrul told the media.
“It’s a great achievement. We really feel proud of them. They proved that women’s football in Bangladesh has developed a lot. There’re several players in this team from our club Bashundhara Kings. We feel proud of them,” he added.
Bashundhara Group has long been playing a vital role in the development of the country’s football with an aim to revive its lost glory. Apart from football, they have also been working in domestic cricket, hockey, golf and other sports.
The country’s largest business conglomerate set up Bashundhara Sports Complex on 300 bighas of land in Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka to popularise and promote the country’s all major sports, including cricket, football, hockey, futsal, golf, basketball, volleyball, archery and shooting.
Country’s top-tier football outfit Bashundhara Kings, which are part of Bashundhara Group, has been equally promoting senior men’s, women’s and age-level football.
“Bashundhara Kings have been promoting senior men’s, women’s and age-level football. It’s an honour for us that most of our players are playing in the men’s and women’s national teams and bringing honour for the nation. It has been possible because we provide all possible facilities and financial support to our footballers,” Imrul added.
Bashundhara Kings women’s football team has been taking part in the Bangladesh Women’s Football League for the last two seasons -- 2019-20 and 2020-21. The team clinched titles in both seasons.
A total of 16 Kings footballers - skipper Sabina Khatun, Rupna Chakma, Masura Parvin, Akhi Khatun, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar (Sr), Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Anai Mogini, Maria Manda, Monika Chakma, Shamsunnahar (Jr), Ritu Porna Chakma, Sanjida Akhter, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sirat Jahan Shopna and Tohura Khatun - were part of the 23-member Bangladesh team that clinched the SAFF Championship.
Bashundhara Group earlier accorded a reception to the Bangladesh Women’s U-19 Football Team for defending the SAFF title for the second time beating India by a solitary margin in the final in Dhaka last December.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
