BPL champions Rajshahi Warriors given open-top bus reception

Bangladesh Premier League champions Rajshahi Warriors were accorded a grand open-top bus reception in Rajshahi on Monday, January 26, as thousands of cricket fans lined the streets to celebrate the historic triumph.

From morning until noon, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and the rest of the squad toured the city on an open-top bus, waving the BPL trophy to cheering crowds.

After securing the title, the team arrived in Rajshahi early in the morning. At around 10:30am, the players reached Hazrat Shah Makhdum Airport and boarded the waiting open-top bus under police escort, beginning their victory parade through the city.

Senior executives of the team’s owner, Nabil Group, led the procession at the front of the bus. Large numbers of fans on motorcycles surrounded the vehicle, holding placards reading “Victory of pride”, “City of heroes” and “The cup has come home”. The front of the bus carried a banner declaring, “The cup has arrived at home”.

The bus travelled from the airport along the Rajshahi–Naogaon highway, passing Amtola, Biman Chattar and the RUET flyover before reaching Paris Road at Rajshahi University. There, students welcomed the players by showering them with flowers. Many fans removed their shirts, T-shirts or sweaters and tossed them towards the players for autographs, which the cricketers happily signed and returned.

Whenever Shanto and Mushfiqur lifted the BPL trophy high, the crowd erupted in applause to the rhythm of drums, with the two stars even dancing atop the bus in celebration.

Leaving the university area, the procession moved through Talaimari and Saheb Bazar to Rajshahi Collegiate School, where students again gathered to honour the champions. Similar scenes unfolded in front of Rajshahi College before the bus continued via Laxmipur, Dorikharbona and Railgate back to Amtola, finally reaching the Nabil Industrial Park in Paba.

Throughout the parade, people along the route raised their hands in salute, while many captured selfies from a distance to preserve the joyful moment.