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Bangabandhu National Stadium

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Bangabandhu National Stadium (Bengali: বঙ্গবন্ধু জাতীয় স্টেডিয়াম), formerly known as the Dhaka Stadium, is a multipurpose sports arena and the national stadium of Bangladesh. Located in the Motijheel area of Dhaka, it is predominantly used for football matches and serves as the home venue for the Bangladesh national football team. The stadium is well known for hosting a high-profile international friendly between Argentina and Nigeria in 2011.[1]

Bangabandhu National Stadium
বঙ্গবন্ধু জাতীয় স্টেডিয়াম
Bangabandhu National Stadium
Map
Former namesDacca Stadium
AddressBangabandhu National Stadium Rd, Dhaka 1000
LocationDhaka, Bangladesh
Coordinates23°43′40.2″N 90°24′48.4″E / 23.727833°N 90.413444°E / 23.727833; 90.413444
OwnerNational Sports Council
OperatorNational Sports Council
Bangladesh Football Federation
Genre(s)Sporting events, concerts
Capacity36,000
Field size105 × 68 metres (Football)
170 x 157 metres (Playing Surface)
Field shapeCircular
SurfaceDesso GrassMaster
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Opened1954; 70 years ago (1954)
Renovated1978, 2011, 2021–2023
Construction cost৳96 crore (US$8.0 million) (2021 renovation)
Tenants
Bangladesh national football team (1878–1993)
Bangladesh national football team (2005–present)
Ground information
TenantsPakistan national cricket team (1955–1999)
Bangladesh national cricket team (2000–2005)
Last used31 January 2005
International information
First Test1–4 January 1955:
 Pakistan v  India
Last Test14–18 January 2005:
 Bangladesh v  Zimbabwe
First ODI27 October 1988:
 Pakistan v  Sri Lanka
Last ODI31 January 2005:
 Bangladesh v  Zimbabwe
As of 28 October 2023
Source: ESPNCricinfo

The stadium has undergone multiple renovations. Prior to the refurbishment for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, its capacity was nearly 55,000. Despite its reduced capacity of 36,000 after renovation, it remains the largest stadium in Bangladesh. The current name, bestowed to honor Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation and also known as "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bengal," adds a significant historical touch.

History

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Early history

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Dhaka Stadium in the late 1950s.

Bangabandhu National Stadium, originally known as Dhaka Stadium, was built for cricket in 1954 on a vast empty land located to the northwest of the current Bangabhaban (the Presidential Palace).[2][3] The stadium is the only venue worldwide to have hosted the inaugural home fixtures for two Test nations: Pakistan and Bangladesh.[4] India were the visitors on both occasions: in 1954–55, when Dacca was the capital of East Pakistan, and in 1976–77, when the first unofficial Test match was held between Bangladesh against the touring MCC from England. And the following year the Sri Lankan national team visited Bangladesh to play a few one-day, two-day and three-day unofficial matches against BCCB XI and Bangladesh national team. After that teams like Deccan Blues from India and MCC toured Bangladesh several times to play against BCCB XI and Bangladesh national team respectively.[citation needed]

Alongside cricket, the stadium was also known to host the historic Dhaka League, which was the country's premier football league even before independence of Bangladesh. In the 80s when football's popularity was skyrocketing, the Dhaka Derby attracted thousands of fans into the stadium from all over the country.[5] The stadium regularly hosted the now defunct Aga Khan Gold Cup, which by many is considered to be first organised international competition that involved club teams around Asia.[6]

The 1978 AFC Youth Championship marked the first major international tournament hosted by both the stadium and the country. The stadium underwent renovations for the occasion, and all 40 matches took place there, with Korea Republic and Iraq being crowned joint champions.[7]

The stadium has a history of hosting number of historic sports event starting from cricket, football, hockey to boxing. In February 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali fought an exhibition boxing match at the stadium, the then Dacca Stadium,[8] with a 12-year-old Bengali boy.[9]

Home of Bangladesh football

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With a purpose-built cricket stadium being constructed on the outskirts of the city, the ground was taken out of commission at the end of the 2004–05 season, and handed over for the sole use of the Bangladesh national football team.[4] Other than being used for the 2011 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony, the stadium has been mainly used for football purposes since the turn of the decade. In March 2005, the Bangladesh Football Federation organised the Independence Day Gold Cup to mark its permanent possession of the stadium.[10]

The stadium has hosted the SAFF Championship three times to date. First during the 2003 edition when Bangladesh lifted the trophy for the first time in history, in front of 46,000 local supporters. Since then the 2009 and most recently the 2018 editions of the tournament have all taken place at the stadium. Ever since the inception of the Bangladesh Premier League, in 2007, the stadium has been used has been used to host majority of the league seasons.[11]

 
Aerial view of Bangabandhu National Stadium

On 6 September 2011, Bangabandhu National Stadium hosted an international friendly football match between the full-strength Argentina and Nigeria teams, featuring Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano and Mikel John Obi among the other star players of both nations. Argentina won 3–1 with goals from then-Real Madrid teammates Gonzalo Higuaín and Ángel Di María, and an own goal from Nigeria's Elderson Echiéjilé with Chinedu Obasi scoring Nigeria's lone goal. Bangladeshi referee Tayeb Shamsuzzaman officiated the game, which drew 25,000 spectators despite ticket prices starting at US$100.[12][13]

On 13 November 2020, the stadium hosted the first of two matches between Bangladesh and Nepal during the Mujib Borsho Fifa International Football Series, arranged by the Bangladesh Football Federation.[14] Bangladesh won the first game of the series 2–0, while the second game which was held four days later, finished goalless which lead the hosts to clinch the series on aggregate. The friendlies helped football return to Bangabandhu National Stadium and the country after a long absence due to the rise of COVID-19 cases worldwide.[15][16]

Refurbishment

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The stadium during 2018 SAFF Championship

The stadium underwent its initial renovation in preparation for the 1978 AFC Youth Championship, the country's first major international tournament hosting. With a budget of Tk 1.2cr, the East Gallery was constructed, and the country's first-ever women's gallery was added. Additionally, the VIP gallery received a redecoration. The newly renovated stadium hosted a total of forty games from played under floodlights.[7]

The stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India on 17 February 2011. The stadium was exclusively modernised and renovated for the opening ceremony. The capacity of the stadium had been decreased to 36,000, a large LED screen had been installed, a modern roof had also been attached over the press box. The entrances and VIP box have also been upgraded to host the grand gala inaugural ceremony. The press box, along with a refreshment stand and the VIP box have been revamped. The stadium now has state of the art facilities suitable for international sporting events.

From September 2021, the stadium underwent a year-long renovation process scheduled to conclude in early 2023. The Bangladesh Football Federation has planned to host future football-related events at the venue, transforming it into a modernized football facility.[17] The renovation includes field development, construction of sheds in galleries, installation of chairs in galleries, modernization of toilets for international and local players, installation of floodlights, CCTV cameras, generators, LED giant screens, new athletic tracks, digital advertising boards, media centers, ticket counters, Dope Test Room Building, Medical Room, VIP Box Construction, President's Box, Toilet development, medical equipment, sub-station equipment, AC, and solar panel supply.[18]

International football

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2018 SAFF Championship

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The stadium was the venue for the 2018 SAFF Championship.

Date Competition Team Result Team Attendance
15 September 2018 Finals   Maldives 2–0   India N/A
12 September 2018 Semi-finals   India 3–1   Pakistan N/A
12 September 2018 Semi-finals     Nepal 0–3   Maldives N/A
9 September 2018 Group B   India 2–0   Maldives N/A
8 September 2018 Group A   Bangladesh 0–2     Nepal N/A
8 September 2018 Group A   Pakistan 3–0   Bhutan N/A
7 September 2018 Group B   Maldives 0–0   Sri Lanka N/A
6 September 2018 Group A   Bangladesh 1–0   Pakistan N/A
6 September 2018 Group A     Nepal 4–0   Bhutan N/A
5 September 2018 Group B   India 2–0   Sri Lanka N/A
4 September 2018 Group A   Bangladesh 2–0   Bhutan N/A
4 September 2018 Group A     Nepal 1–2   Pakistan N/A

2009 SAFF Championship

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The stadium was the venue for the 2009 SAFF Championship.

Date Competition Team Res Team Attendance
13 December 2009 Finals   Maldives 0(1)–0(3) (pens)   India U23 N/A
11 December 2009 Semi-finals   Bangladesh 0–1   India U23 N/A
11 December 2009 Semi-finals   Maldives 5–1     Nepal N/A
9 December 2009 Group A   Maldives 0–3   India U23 N/A
9 December 2009 Group A   Afghanistan 0–3     Nepal N/A
8 December 2009 Group B   Pakistan 7–0   Bhutan N/A
7 December 2009 Group A   India U23 1–0     Nepal N/A
7 December 2009 Group B   Maldives 0–0     Nepal N/A
7 December 2009 Group A   Maldives 3–1   Afghanistan N/A
6 December 2009 Group B   Bangladesh 0–0   Pakistan N/A
6 December 2009 Group B   Sri Lanka 6–0   Bhutan N/A
5 December 2009 Group A   India U23 1–0   Afghanistan N/A
5 December 2009 Group A     Nepal 1–1   Maldives N/A
4 December 2009 Group B   Bangladesh 4–1   Bhutan N/A
4 December 2009 Group B   Sri Lanka 1–0   Pakistan N/A

2003 SAFF Gold Cup

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The stadium was the venue for the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup.

Date Competition Team Res Team Attendance
20 January 2003 Finals   Bangladesh 1(5)–1(3) (pens)   Maldives 46,000
20 January 2003 Third-place match   India 2–1 (a.s.d.e.t.)   Pakistan N/A
18 January 2003 Semi-finals   Bangladesh 2–1 (a.s.d.e.t.)   India N/A
18 January 2003 Semi-finals   Maldives 2–1   Pakistan N/A
15 January 2003 Group B   Bangladesh 3–0   Bhutan 15,000
15 January 2003 Group B     Nepal 2–3   Maldives 15,000
14 January 2003 Group A   India 1–1   Sri Lanka N/A
14 January 2003 Group A   Pakistan 1–0   Afghanistan N/A
13 January 2003 Group B   Bangladesh 1–0   Maldives 20,000
13 January 2003 Group B     Nepal 2–0   Bhutan N/A
12 January 2003 Group A   India 4–0   Afghanistan N/A
12 January 2003 Group A   Pakistan 6–0   Sri Lanka N/A
11 January 2003 Group B   Bangladesh 1–0     Nepal 55,000
11 January 2003 Group B   Maldives 6–0   Bhutan 25,000
10 January 2003 Group A   Sri Lanka 1–0   Afghanistan N/A
10 January 2003 Group A   India 0–1   Pakistan N/A

Bangladesh Premier League

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Argentina beat Nigeria 3–1 to avenge June's defeat Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine BBC
  2. ^ Chowdhury, Emdadul Hoque (February 2020). কোম্পানির বাগান থেকে ঢাকা স্টেডিয়াম এবং ঐতিহাসিক পল্টন ময়দান [From Company's garden to Dhaka Stadium and historical Paltan Maidan]. Dhakar Itihash ঢাকার ইতিহাস [History of Dhaka] (e-book) (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Mohakal. ISBN 978-984-93997-0-4.
  3. ^ "AFC lists Bangabandhu Stadium as 'iconic'". Daily Sun. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Andrew (2005). "Bangabandhu National Stadium". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  5. ^ Hussain, Akhter (17 February 2019). "Dhaka Football League: Days of Glory". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. ^ Hoque, Shishir (4 March 2018). "Football before the birth of Bangladesh". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b ঢাকার মাঠে সবচেয়ে বড় ফুটবল উৎসব. উৎপল শুভ্র :: Utp al Shuvro. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Ali will have new battle plan". The Eagle. Bryan-College Station, TX. Associated Press. 17 February 1978. p. 15. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "The Boy Who 'knocked Out' Ali". The Daily Star. 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh 2005/06". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Football League starts on February 3". New Age. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ^ ARGENTINA VS. NIGERIA 3 – 1 Archived 27 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine Soccerway.com
  13. ^ Messi inspires Argentina to win over Nigeria Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine NDTV
  14. ^ "FIFA Int'l Series: Bangladesh to play Nepal in series decider on Tuesday". UNB. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Bangladesh-Nepal friendlies to be styled 'Mujib Borsho Fifa International Football Series'". The Business Standard. 8 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  16. ^ "FIFA Int'l Series: Bangladesh win two-match series". UNB. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  17. ^ প্রিমিয়ার লিগ শেষে বঙ্গবন্ধু স্টেডিয়ামের সংস্কার কাজ শুরু. jagonews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Bangabandhu National Stadium to be decorated at a cost of Tk 96 cr – The Daily Industry". Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  19. ^ "B. League 2006-2007 Statistics". archive.bff.com.bd.
  20. ^ "Citycell B. League 2008 Statistics". archive.bff.com.bd.
  21. ^ "Citycell Bangladesh League 2009". archive.bff.com.bd. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Grameenphone Bangladesh League 2010". archive.bff.com.bd. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  23. ^ "GP Bangladesh Premier League 2011-12 Fixture & Results". archive.bff.com.bd. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Results of Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League 2012-13". archive.bff.com.bd. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Results of Nitol TATA BPFL-2013-14". archive.bff.com.bd. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  26. ^ "2015 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  27. ^ "2016 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  28. ^ "2017–18 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  29. ^ "2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  30. ^ "2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  31. ^ "2020–21 Bangladesh Premier League". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023.
  32. ^ প্রিমিয়ার লিগ হবে ছয় ভেন্যুতে, বিকল্প হিসেবে থাকছে বসুন্ধরার স্পোর্টস কমপ্লেক্স. Daily Sports BD. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Premier League back in original format". The Daily Star. 12 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022.
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