After returning from two friendly matches in Thailand and spending a week on leave, the Bangladesh women’s football team arrived in Chattogram on Tuesday to resume intensive training under British head coach Peter Butler. A total of 41 players from both the senior and under-20 squads have joined the camp.
Meanwhile, the Bhutan Women’s Football League is nearing its conclusion, and Transport United released its foreign players before the end of the season. As a result, Bangladeshi players Rupna Chakma, Krishna Rani Sarkar, and Masura Parvin have returned home, along with Sanjida Akter, who played for Thimphu. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has renewed all players’ contracts until December.
Despite being under contract, Krishna, Masura, and Sanjida did not join Butler’s camp in Chattogram. Former national defender Masura Parvin said, “Our club released the foreign players earlier, so I am now at home. We are under contract, but the federation has not informed us about joining the camp.”
Star forward Krishna Rani Sarkar, who is currently at her home in Tangail, added, “If the federation calls, I will definitely join the camp. They know I am back in the country, but they have not said anything about joining.”
In 2024, a rift developed between senior players and coach Peter Butler during a training camp in Kathmandu, Nepal, when 19 players boycotted him. The issue was later resolved after several rounds of discussion between the federation, the players, and the coach. Although Butler later recalled some of the previously boycotting players such as Monika, Rupna, and Rituparna, he did not invite Sabina, Krishna, Sanjida, Masura, or Sumaiya back to the national setup.
Krishna, however, said she remains ready to return if called up. “Before the Bhutan league started, I trained under Butler for four days. If they call me, I am prepared to give my best in training,” she said.
Under Butler’s guidance, Bangladesh’s women’s football team has achieved several recent successes. However, weaknesses in defensive strategy have been evident against stronger opponents. His ongoing dispute with a few senior players who featured in the Bhutan league has led to their continued exclusion from even preliminary camps. Football insiders believe inviting them for assessment, at least in the initial stages, would benefit the national side.
Despite Butler’s apparent lack of plans for Sabina, Krishna, and others, the BFF has renewed their contracts. Questions remain as to why contracted players have not been called up to camp, and what justification the federation has for maintaining contracts without active involvement. When asked about the matter, BFF women’s wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron did not provide any comment. Many within the team and federation say they are unaware of the reasons behind the players’ exclusion.
