Three clubs, one ambition

Three debutants to the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) -- Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samiti, Shuktara Jubo Sangsad and Chattogram City Football Club -- will begin their campaigns on Sunday with a common goal of earning promotion to the Bangladesh Football League (BFL), as the 10-team second-tier competition gets underway across three venues.

Although their paths differ, all three aim to emulate clubs such as Saif Sporting Club, Bashundhara Kings, Fortis Football Club and NoFel Sporting Club, which previously earned promotion to the top tier via the BCL, where the champions and runners-up secure BFL spots for the next season.

Founded in 1969, Khelaghar SKS currently operate teams in the First Division Cricket League and the Women’s Premier Division Cricket League. They will open their BCL campaign against City Club at Fortis Ground on Sunday.

“Khelaghar once played in the Pioneer Football League around 22 years ago before leaving football due to various issues and shifting focus to cricket,” club president Mahmudur Rahman Barkat told The Daily Star.

“However, we have returned to football as its popularity has risen again and people are paying renewed attention to the game,” he added, noting that the Farmgate-based club have assembled a “champion squad” by recruiting players with experience across the Dhaka leagues.

Shuktara JS, established in Narayanganj in 1974, previously featured in the country’s top professional league in the 2009–10 season but disappeared from the scene following relegation.

“We regret not being able to remain in the country’s top or second-tier leagues, but we have returned to the second tier after identifying the reasons behind our elimination,” said coordinator and executive member Mahabubul Haque Talukdar.

“We want to make full use of the opportunity we have been given,” he added, reiterating that the Shuktara’s target is a return to the BFL. Former national defender Wali Faisal has been appointed head coach, with the team training in Narayanganj.

Chattogram City, meanwhile, are eager to restore the port city’s presence in Dhaka football. The club previously competed in the Chittagong league as Bangladesh Boys but rebranded after another club with the same name emerged in the capital.

“Chattogram has a proud tradition in football,” club president Syed Saiful Islam told The Daily Star. “We want to represent and brand Chattogram in Dhaka through football, but our ultimate target is to advance to the BFL,” he said, adding that the squad features 16 to 17 players from Chattogram alongside experienced recruits from Dhaka to mount a title challenge. Chattogram City will face Shuktara JS at Fortis Ground on Monday.

Despite their ambitions, officials from all three clubs admitted to limited preparation after the transfer window closed on January 15.

They will also face stiff competition from established BCL sides such as Wari Club, City Club, Dhaka Rangers Football Club, Little Friends Club and BRTC Club, while relegated outfits Dhaka Wanderers Club and Chittagong Abahani are also expected to be in the title race.