Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal has sent a formal letter to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul on Monday, expressing deep concern over what he described as “disrespectful and alarming” comments made against football during the Bangladesh Cricket Conference held in Dhaka on 9 November.
The strongly worded letter, delivered on Monday, came after BCB Director and singer Asif Akbar claimed that footballers were damaging cricket pitches and obstructing the growth of cricket across the country.
In his speech at the conference, Asif alleged that football had “taken over” district stadiums, forcing cricket leagues such as the Cumilla Cricket League to use matting wickets instead of turf. He went further, calling football an obstacle to cricket’s development and referring to the sport as “undisciplined” compared to cricket’s “elegant nature”.
Tabith Awal, in his response, termed the remarks “offensive and disappointing,” adding that they undermined the spirit of unity that should bind Bangladesh’s sporting community.
“Such statements are not only disrespectful to football but also to the entire sports fraternity,” Awal wrote. “We use sport as a platform for unity, pride and inspiration for our nation. These words contradict that very spirit.”
The BFF chief reminded the BCB president that both federations had pledged to work together to promote an inclusive and equitable sporting environment. He questioned whether the remarks made at the conference aligned with the values of equality and respect that the country stands for.
Awal also took issue with the use of the term “elite” to describe cricket and the suggestion that football was “rough” or “problematic.” He wrote that such words raised “serious questions” about whether Bangladesh was staying true to its vision of a fair and balanced sporting culture.
“Football is not merely a game. It is the heartbeat of millions, a source of unity and pride,” the BFF president added. “Footballers have historically played leading roles in our nation’s progress from the Liberation War to disaster relief and social movements.”
In his letter, Awal said he represented “thousands of players and millions of fans” and demanded an official explanation from the BCB president to clarify the board’s position.
“I trust you, as a respected national sports figure, will not allow your platform to be misused. The nation deserves clarity, and our players deserve respect,” he concluded.
Awal maintained that his intention was not confrontation but a call for mutual respect between the country’s leading sports bodies.
Meanwhile, Asif Akbar’s comments have reignited debate over the long-standing turf conflict between cricket and football in Bangladesh, particularly regarding access to shared venues managed by the National Sports Council (NSC).
At the conference, Asif urged the BCB to engage with the BFF to find a permanent solution to the issue, warning that if necessary, “cricket people will fight too” to protect their right to play.
While his remarks drew applause from some cricket officials, they also sparked outrage across the football community, which views the statements as divisive and contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship.
As of Tuesday, the BCB had yet to issue any formal response to the letter from the BFF president.
