FIFA Football Technical Centre to be built in Ramu

After years of complications, the initiative to build a FIFA-funded football technical centre in Rashidnagar, Ramu, Cox's Bazar, has moved forward. Following a nearly four-year process involving land allocation and site selection, the district administration has completed the registration of 15.20 acres of land and handed over the deed to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

The handover took place at an event at a hotel in Cox's Bazar on Monday afternoon (September 7). BFF President Tabith Awal signed on behalf of the federation, while Deputy Commissioner MA Mannan signed on behalf of the government. The DC formally handed over the land deed to the BFF president.

BFF President Tabith Awal said the 15.5 acres of land had been allocated for the technical centre in Ramu upazila on the directive of the Prime Minister. He thanked the Prime Minister, the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police and all others involved for their cooperation. He said the establishment of an international-standard technical centre would open new horizons for football development in the country, providing modern and structured training for talented players from across Bangladesh.

Tabith Awal further said the centre would create opportunities for both national and international-level training programmes and would play a vital role in nurturing young footballers. The project will be implemented on the side of the highway near the 'Swapnotari Recreation Centre' in Dhalirchhara mouza of Rashidnagar, Ramu. The BFF will construct the centre at a cost of approximately Tk 88 crore ($6.6 million) provided by FIFA. Construction of the boundary wall is expected to begin next month.

What the project includes

The project will feature multiple natural and artificial turf football fields, a gymnasium, a four-storey residential building, classrooms, a sports science and medical unit, indoor training facilities, physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre, video analysis lab and coaching education centre. It will also include dining and conference facilities, with separate accommodation for age-based teams.

BFF officials said the centre will be used for long-term training of the national team, women's team and various age-based teams including U-17, U-20 and U-23. It will also facilitate training for coaches and match officials, talent scouting from across the country and player care.

BFF officials said FIFA's executive committee allocated the project for a technical centre in Bangladesh in 2022. Initially, 20 acres of land in Khuniapalong, Ramu, was identified, but it was later cancelled due to environmental objections as it fell within a reserved forest area. The BFF then began searching for alternative land. In 2025, 15.20 acres of khas land in Dhalirchhara mouza of Rashidnagar, Ramu, was finalised, and the land was settled in favour of the BFF in coordination with the district administration.

BFF Project Officer Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui said Rashidnagar was chosen considering its geographical advantages, ample space and potential to be developed as an international-standard training centre in the future. Its location beside the highway would also ensure easy communication.

Cox's Bazar Department of Environment Director (current charge) Zmir Uddin said the designated land is not classified as hilly, and there is no possibility of harmful impact on trees or the environment. No-objection clearance was given after a comprehensive survey.

Deputy Commissioner MA Mannan said the district administration received directives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports regarding land allocation for the project in 2025. The land was identified in coordination with the BFF, and registration was completed after final approval from the ministry.

BFF Technical Committee Chairman Kamrul Hasan Hilton said the project had been stalled for a long time due to various constraints. Several extensions had to be sought from FIFA, and at one point there was a risk of the project being cancelled. With everyone's cooperation, the land registration was finally completed, and work on the project would begin soon. After the handover, the BFF president and officials visited the project site with district administration officials.