Bangladesh Premier League (Football)
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is the top professional football league in Bangladesh.
Launched in 2007, it replaced the former Dhaka League as the top-tier competition and is operated by the
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
The league has grown steadily, featuring both domestic clubs with rich history and increasing numbers of foreign players.
History and facts
The Bangladesh Premier League was formed in 2007 as part of a reform to modernize and improve football standards in Bangladesh. It became the country's first fully professional football league.
Historically strong clubs include Abahani Limited Dhaka, Mohammedan SC, Bashundhara Kings, and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
In recent years, Bashundhara Kings have dominated modern Bangladeshi football, winning multiple league titles and investing heavily in both local and foreign talent.
League system
BPL usually features 10–12 clubs.
The bottom team at the end of the season is relegated to the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL),
while the BCL champion earns promotion to the Premier League.
Table 1. Bangladesh football league pyramid
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh Premier League | 1 |
| Bangladesh Championship League | 2 |
| Dhaka Senior Division League | 3 |
| Dhaka First Division League | 4 |
| Regional/Amateur Leagues | 5 |
Below the 4th tier are various regional and district leagues.
Stats
Teams with most BPL titles
Table 2. Most Bangladesh Premier League titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Bashundhara Kings | 4 |
| Abahani Limited Dhaka | 3 |
| Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club | 3 |
| Mohammedan SC | 1 |
| Sheikh Russell KC | 1 |
Bashundhara Kings dominate the modern era with multiple consecutive titles.
Teams with most top-tier participation
Table 3. Clubs with most seasons in the top division
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Abahani Limited Dhaka | 40+ |
| Mohammedan SC | 35+ |
| Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi | 15+ |
| Bashundhara Kings | 7+ |
| Brothers Union | 25+ |
Abahani Limited Dhaka and Mohammedan SC are two of the oldest clubs in Bangladesh.
Audience
Major stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums used in BPL
| Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bangabandhu National Stadium | Dhaka | 36,000 |
| Bashundhara Kings Arena | Dhaka | 12,000 |
| Shaheed Dhirendranath Stadium | Comilla | 15,000 |
| Sheikh Jamal Stadium | Nilphamari | 20,000 |
| Chittagong MA Aziz Stadium | Chittagong | 30,000 |
Players
Famous Bangladeshi footballers
- Jamal Bhuyan
- Topu Barman
- Yeasin Arafat
- Mamunul Islam
- Nabib Newaj Jibon
- Tapu Barman
- Rasel Mahmud Liton
- Hassan Al-Mamun
Bangladesh Premier League timeline
2007
Bangladesh Premier League is launched as the country’s first professional league.
2010
Abahani Limited Dhaka wins early dominance.
2018
Bashundhara Kings enter the league and immediately become a top contender.
2020
COVID-19 cancels the league season.
2021
Bashundhara Kings continue modern dominance.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Premier_League_(football)
https://www.bff.com.bd
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Premier_League_(football)
https://www.bff.com.bd
https://www.rsssf.org
