After a 55-month absence, the floodlights at Dhaka’s National Stadium roared back to life—and with them, the heartbeat of Bangladeshi football. On an emotionally charged evening that felt like a homecoming, it was a “new Bangladeshi” who stole the spotlight. Hamza Choudhury, the Leicester City midfielder born in England, made his first appearance on home soil one to remember, scoring within six minutes as Bangladesh beat Bhutan 2–0 in a historic encounter.
The match was more than just a game—it was a national moment. As the floodlights bathed the pitch, the chants of “Bangladesh! Bangladesh!” echoed through the stands, rekindling memories of a bygone era of footballing fervour.
Bangladesh took the lead in the 6th minute. Captain Jamal Bhuiyan delivered a curling corner, and through a crowded Bhutanese defence rose Hamza Choudhury—his brave, precise header rippling the net and sending the stadium into a frenzy. For a player who had scored just once in 57 appearances for Leicester in the Premier League, this was a special moment: his first international goal for the land of his roots, in only his second appearance.
Bhutan struggled to recover from the early setback, and the visitors were soon under constant pressure. In the 32nd minute, debutant Fahamidul Islam charged down the left and forced a save. Jamal himself went close soon after. Though Bhutan attempted counter-attacks, they failed to truly trouble Bangladesh’s defence.
The hosts played high up the pitch, pressing with energy and intent. Hamza, deployed in midfield, spent much of the match operating in the opponent’s half—his defensive duties minimal, his influence immense.
The starting XI reflected a new era: five foreign-born players took to the field for Bangladesh—Jamal, Hamza, Fahamidul, Kazem, and Tariq. At the back, brothers Sad and Taj Uddin added to the story. Yet, the opening 45 minutes revealed moments of disjointed play. Head coach Javier Cabrera responded at half-time with a triple substitution, resting Hamza, Jamal, and Kazem with one eye on the upcoming match against Singapore on 10 June. Hridoy, Morsalin, and Ibrahim were brought on.
Just three minutes after the restart, substitute Sohel Rana lit up the stadium once more. Picking up the ball 25 yards out, he unleashed a thunderous drive that left the Bhutan keeper with no chance. Bangladesh 2–0. The crowd erupted again.
Rakib Hossain had a chance to make it three but fired narrowly wide. In the 60th minute, Fahamidul and Rakib made way for Al-Amin and Fahim. Fahamidul, on debut, gave a promising account of himself and will feel encouraged.
Off the pitch, however, the Bangladesh Football Federation will face tough questions. Mismanagement marred the occasion, with ticketed fans struggling to enter. Frustrated by delays, some supporters forced open a gate to gain entry—raising serious concerns about crowd control and organisation. For a night meant to symbolise rebirth, these scenes were a sobering reminder of challenges still to be addressed.
Then came an extraordinary—and surreal—moment. Midway through the second half, with Bangladesh in full control, a pitch invader burst past security and ran toward the Bangladesh dugout, phone in hand, desperate for a selfie with Choudhury. Though quickly removed by security, the incident had the feel of a cinematic scene and underscored the star power Hamza now holds. Such fanfare is common in Europe, rarely seen here. But times are changing.
There was still time for one scare—Bhutan carved out a rare chance late on, but goalkeeper Mitul Marma stood tall to preserve the clean sheet. The final whistle blew. Scoreboard: Bangladesh 2, Bhutan 0.
Fahamidul shared a tender moment with his parents pitch-side after the game. In the stands, the chant rang out once more: “Bangladesh! Bangladesh!”
This was more than a win. It was the reclaiming of pride, passion, and possibility. In front of roughly 15,000 fans in a 21,000-capacity ground, under long-dormant floodlights, Bangladeshi football felt reborn. The long silence is over. The light has returned.
Bangladesh starting XI: Mitul Marma; Sad Uddin, Tapu Barman, Taj Uddin, Tariq Kazi; Sohel Rana, Hamza Choudhury (Hridoy), Fahamidul Islam (Fahim), Jamal Bhuiyan (Morsalin), Kazem Shah (Ibrahim); Rakib Hossain (Al-Amin).