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Dhaka Senior Division Football League or Dhaka League, one of the oldest and prime football leagues of Bangladesh, has been observing its 75th anniversary this year.
The league was founded in 1948 during the regime of Pakistan - one year after the partition of British India.
Since its inception, several teams won the league title for three successive seasons but no team was able to win it for four successive times.
However, in this special year, Bashundhara Kings, the current most celebrated football outfit, are on the course of creating new history as they are only one win away from becoming the first club in the country to win the prestigious domestic league title four times in a row.
Kings previously clinched the title of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) -- a successor to Dhaka League -- in the seasons of 2018–19, 2020–21 and 2021–22 respectively.
The season of 2019–20 was abandoned by the Bangladesh Football Federation due to the Covid-19 pandemic as per instructions of FIFA and AFC.
The Roll of Honour of Dhaka League shows that Dhaka Wanderers Club are the first club to win the hat-trick league titles after emerging champions in the 1953, 1954 and 1956 seasons.
As per the archive of the National Sports Council, the season of 1955 was abandoned due to the flood. In addition, Wanderers are also the first club to secure the league in consecutive years - in 1950 and 1951.
Abahani Krira Chakra (now Abahani Limited Dhaka) are the first club in independent Bangladesh to become champions for three years in a row in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and Mohammedan Sporting Club are second in this race with their hat-trick titles in 1986, 1987 and 1988-89.
Dhaka League was first renamed as Dhaka Premier Division Football League by the BFF after 1992.
Later, the federation re-constructed the league system and re-created a top-tier league from Dhaka Premier Division Football League named B League in 2007.
The B League was renamed two times -- Bangladesh League in 2009-10 on the first occasion, then Bangladesh Premier League in 2010-11 which is still on paper.
Some sources claim that Dhaka League was merged with Dhaka First Division League and renamed as Dhaka Senior Division Football League (which is currently the second tier league) after the season of 2006-7, but there is no doubt that all existing leagues in Bangladesh are driven out from Dhaka League.
Kings have already strengthened their supremacy in the eleven-team BPL point table with 43 points from 16 matches, with a 10-point lead on the second-placed Abahani Ltd Dhaka.
It means that Oscar Bruzon’s men can celebrate their 'tetra BPL title’ against Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd at their home venue – Bashundhara Kings Arena – on May 26.
Their remaining matches are against Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Abahani Ltd on June 3, July 7 and 14 respectively.
“It is really unbelievable that we are going to have such a historical feat. We will be the first club to clinch four BPL titles in a row in the 75th year of our football. But unfortunately, we missed the domestic treble this year,” said Kings President Imrul Hassan.
Kings were successful to regain the Independence Cup title this year but they wasted a chance of regaining the Federation Cup title as well after they lost to Mohammedan in the semifinal earlier this month.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
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