Bangladesh’s long awaited return of domestic club football to the Dhaka National Stadium has been overshadowed by controversy, with Mohammedan Sporting Club expressing strong dissatisfaction after the Bangladesh Football Federation decided to hold their Victory Day fixture against Bashundhara Kings without spectators on December 16.
The match, part of the Federation Cup, was set to mark the first domestic club game at the national stadium in five years, following extensive renovation work. With Victory Day providing the backdrop and two of the country’s biggest clubs involved, supporters had anticipated a vibrant atmosphere in the stands.
Instead, BFF has informed Mohammedan that the game will be played in an empty stadium, citing security concerns. According to the federation, law enforcement agencies will be fully engaged in Victory Day duties across the country, making it impossible to provide adequate security for spectators at the venue.
The explanation has not been accepted by Mohammedan, who responded immediately with a formal letter outlining their objections. The club argued that Victory Day is traditionally a time when people seek entertainment and gather at public venues, and that staging a high profile football match without fans runs counter to the idea of reviving the sport.
In their correspondence, Mohammedan suggested that if security truly cannot be guaranteed on December 16, the fixture should be moved to another suitable date. The club stressed that they do not want to damage the appeal of football by playing such a marquee match behind closed doors.
The fixture had originally been scheduled to take place at the Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Comilla, but was relocated to Dhaka because of Victory Day events at that venue. Teams had already begun preparing for the match in the capital when the decision to bar spectators was communicated, a sequence of events that some within the football community view as unnecessary delay and mismanagement.
The timing is particularly sensitive for Mohammedan, who have endured a difficult start to the league season, losing three of their five matches. With results going against them, the presence of supporters was seen as a potential source of momentum for coach Alfaz Ahmed’s side. Preventing fans from attending, the club fear, could further inflame existing frustration among their followers rather than help ease it.
