Goal Programme - Bangladesh Football Federation - 2002

In Bangladesh, cricket and hockey are pushing football hard for its place as the nation's number one sport. Victories at an invitation tournament in Myanmar in 1995, the 8th SAF Games Football Tournament in Nepal in 1995 and the 3rd SAFF Championship on own home soil in 2003 are the most significant honours of the Bangladesh Football Federation. In the 1980s and 1990s, several home-grown players ventured abroad. From 1991 to 1993, top Indian clubs East Bengal and Mohammedam from Calcutta signed a total of 10 footballers from their neighbours. Bangladesh's best-known players are Kazi Salahuddin (played in Hong Kong in 1979) and Md. Kawser Hamid (Kolkata Mohammedan S/C), who since the end of their playing careers have devoted their time to development work in their home country - both at club and international level.

On 4 March 2002, the Goal Bureau approved the construction of headquarters for the national association and a technical centre in Dhaka. The new building with modern facilities, including accommodation, a library and an archive will help the national association to efficiently handle day-to-day operations, plan new programmes, and coordinate the playing calendar, while also taking care of a range of other activities. Players from the various national teams can be accommodated at the technical centre during training and preparation camps. The library and archives containing books, historic documents, newspapers and magazines are open to the public. The complex therefore also serves as a meeting point for the extended football family in Bangladesh. Funds from Goal and the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme paid for the facilities to be built on land donated by the government.