Arrival of Hamza-Shamit: Football fans await festival at national stadium

On June 10, Bangladesh will take on Singapore at the historic National Stadium in Dhaka in an Asian Cup qualifier. The match has sparked a wave of excitement among football fans across the country. Football returns to the stadium—bringing back its heartbeat—after a long hiatus of three and a half years, following the completion of extensive renovations. The comeback begins with a friendly match against Bhutan on June 4.

Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Som, and Fahmidul Islam are set to make their first appearance at the national level. Hamza, who previously played in the English Premier League, made his debut for Bangladesh against India this past March. This will be his first time playing on homeground in national colours. Canada-based Shamit and Italy-based Fahmidul are also awaiting their debuts.

Excitement among fans is running high. The newly renovated stadium now boasts modern amenities such as a digital scoreboard, improved drainage system, new floodlights, an international-standard press box, and comfortable gallery seating. The National Sports Council is in the final stages of preparing the pitch. Once the military camp is withdrawn, the stadium will be handed over to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) within days.

The BFF is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations to make the event memorable. A grand spectacle is being planned to elevate the match-day experience. Ticket sales began online (via tickify.live) on Saturday night. Ticket prices range from BDT 400 for general gallery seating to BDT 5,000 for premium categories. There will also be a fan zone, laser show, cultural performances, and special bus and metro services for fans.

Fahad Karim, BFF vice-president and head of marketing, said, "With top-quality players like Hamza and Shamit, we want to deliver a match that fans will never forget. There's never been a game like this in our football history."

This new generation of footballers has sparked fresh hope in Bangladeshi football. United Commercial Bank has signed on as the national team’s main sponsor. ‘Dour’ has come on board as kit sponsor, while Robi, Molten, and several others have joined as co-sponsors for the Singapore match. Supporters believe this football renaissance is the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s sporting history.