ANISUR RAHMAN

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) continues to grapple with a recurring dilemma: balancing national team preparations with the smooth operation of domestic competitions -- two elements crucial to each other’s growth.

Unlike most footballing nations, BFF creates time for the national team by carving it out of the domestic calendar. This approach has repeatedly led to the scrapping of tournaments, disrupting the continuity of local competitions.

With the next season set to begin in June, uncertainty surrounds the remaining events of the ongoing campaign. The Independence Cup and Super Cup are now in doubt after the Professional League Management Committee (PLMC) announced that the 2026-27 transfer window will open on June 1.

The current calendar included five top-tier competitions: the one-off Challenge Cup, the Bangladesh Football League (BFL), Federation Cup, Independence Cup and Super Cup. So far, only the Challenge Cup final has been completed. The Federation Cup and BFL are set to end on May 19 and May 23, respectively, leaving just eight days to stage the remaining two tournaments.

PLMC vice chairman Zakir Hossain Chowdhury said they “will be trying to hold the Independence Cup”, but the practicality is questionable. The tournament typically involves all professional league teams, divided into four groups, and requires around three weeks to complete.

Meanwhile, the national team will start gearing up for June 5 FIFA international friendly against San Marino, further tightening the already congested schedule.

Since the BFL kicked off on September 26, 2025, the league has been suspended for more than 15 weeks due to national team preparations, the mid-season transfer window and the national election. Much of this downtime was used for national team camps, raising questions about the emphasis on domestic competitions.

A similar situation unfolded last season, when both the Independence Cup and Super Cup were scrapped due to time constraints. This reduced match exposure for local players, despite the general need for footballers to play 30 to 40 domestic matches annually to maintain their level.

These disruptions reflect a lack of coordination between the PLMC and the National Teams Committee. The BFL schedule has frequently been adjusted to accommodate extended preparation periods, including the recent AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

While global practice typically confines national team preparations within FIFA windows, the BFF has regularly allowed extended camps. This has led to repeated interruptions in the BFL and Federation Cup, leaving insufficient time to complete all competitions.

The pauses have also increased costs for financially struggling clubs, many of whom believe regular domestic competition better prepares players for international football than prolonged training camps.

Despite these challenges, the league committee has again included all five competitions in the draft calendar for the 2026-27 season, raising questions about the practicality of planning tournaments that may not be held.

Since the BFL kicked off on September 26, 2025, the league has been suspended for more than 15 weeks due to national team preparations, the mid-season transfer window and the national election.