Bashundhara Kings have once again refused to release players for international duty, this time withholding 10 footballers called up to the senior national team for two friendlies in Nepal. The decision comes shortly after the club declined to release England-based player Cuba Mitchell for the under-23 team’s training camp in Bahrain.
In a letter sent on Friday to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) General Secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, Kings’ General Secretary Bidyut Kumar Bhawmick said the players would not be made available due to their long absence from training, concerns for their future, and the need to reduce injury risks. The club has already started pre-season preparations ahead of the 2025–26 domestic football season, which begins on 12 September.
Kings also referred to last year’s injury to Bishwanath Ghosh as an example of the risks they are seeking to avoid. They stressed that their decision was in line with FIFA regulations, which only oblige clubs to release players 72 hours before the start of the FIFA international window.
Those affected include Tapu Barman, Saad Uddin, Tariq Kazi, Hridoy, Sohel Rana, Md Sohel Rana, Shahriar Emon, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, and Rakib Hossain. While Kings have declined to release them for the senior squad, they have allowed Jony, Rimon, and Shrabon, their current first-choice goalkeeper, to join the under-23 side in Bahrain, prompting accusations of double standards.
The timing of the decision has caused embarrassment for the federation. The national team camp began on 13 August, with the players scheduled to join today. Kings President Imrul Hasan, who is also BFF Senior Vice-President, Deputy Chairman of the National Team Committee, and Chairman of the Professional League Committee, had signed off on the camp arrangements on 30 July. Despite this, his club’s refusal has left the federation in a difficult position.
Dhaka Abahani, the club with the second-highest number of players called up (five), have released all their players Mitul Marma, Kazem, Shakil, Ibrahim, and Papon as have other clubs. The Kings’ stance has therefore raised further questions within the country’s football community, with concerns that trust in Imrul Hasan’s leadership on league matters could now be seriously undermined.