New Bangladeshi pro league "a big leap forward"

The Bangladesh Football Federation has approved the launch of the new Bangladesh Professional Football League on 21 December with player transfers held from 15 November to 31 December. "We are confident that the professional league will reclaim the popularity of the game,” BFF General Secretary Anwarul Haq Helal said. "It's a big leap forward for the game in Bangladesh. For the first time in more than 100 years of football in this part of the world, the players can take the game seriously as a job," Helal told AFP.

Established under the Asian Football Confederation's Vision Asia program, the league's inaugural season will introduce eight clubs from the capital city Dhaka and four from regional cities: Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra, Brothers Union, Shiekh Rasel Krira Chakra, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Badda Jagoroni Sangsad, Chittagong Mohammedan Sporting Club, Chittagong Abahoni Limited, Jalalabad Football Limited, Faridpur District Sports Association and Khulna Abahoni Limited.