The player transfer window for the upcoming BPL began October 1, and the participating clubs can complete players transfer formalities between 12pm and 5pm every working day until November 20.
While all the competing clubs are busy during these last few weeks in putting together squads in line with their ambitions for the competition, the casino scandal forced Arambagh KS to withdraw from the BPL. It may be mentioned here that the fate suffered by Arambagh KS looks at this early stage at least to be more extreme than others in their division.
Arambagh KS President AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed, also the General Secretary of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), is one of the key accused for leading the casino syndicate and is believed to have fled the country fearing arrest in the wake of the ‘cleansing drive’ ordered by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, that has mostly targeted elements within her own party Awami League and its affiliated bodies.
Sayeed ascended to the Arambagh presidency in 2015, around the same time as the erstwhile gambling dens of Dhaka started a conversion into casinos. His absence has left the participation of his club in booters’ transfer uncertain. Eventually
Meanwhile, Sayeed, has also been removed from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) ward-9 councillor for his alleged involvement in casino business.
Arambagh’s misery continued as they lost their celebrated coach Maruful Haque and key player Md Rabiul Hasan.
Maruful, the first South Asian football coach who got UEFA A license, inked with Chittagong Abahani Limited and Md Rabiul Hasan with Bashundhara Kings.
Vice-President of Arambagh KS Azaz Mohammed Jahangir said, “We are not taking part in the ongoing player’s transfer and in the upcoming BPL. We are totally unable to do any activities in the club.”
“We send a formal letter to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) regarding this crisis and requested them to extend the player transfer window. They replied us on and said that they are unable to extend the window date,” the vice-president added.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Competition Manager Jaber Bin Taher Ansari also confirmed it, “Yes, the federation has sent a letter to Arambagh KS in reply and we are unable to extend the date.”
After asking about the replacement for Arambagh, Jaber replied, “The BFF Football Professional League Committee will decide this as per rule.”
Arambagh KS remains one of the oldest or longest-surviving clubs in the country, having been established in the then-provincial capital Dhaka. After independence, it gained the distinction of being the first club from Bangladesh to reach the final of an international football club tournament ANFA Cup1981 in Nepal.
Besides, Arambagh have finished runners-up twice in another regional international tournament, the Sikkim Gold Cup. The ‘always the bridesmaid’ luck follows them in their domestic performances as well - Arambagh finished as the runners-up in the Bangladesh Federation Cup thrice 1997, 2001, 2016 and emerged champions of the Independence Cup 2017–18.
Another traditional club Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) or Dhaka Mohammedan, also known as the traditional black and white, are undergoing through the same crisis, but will participate in the upcoming BPL.
The Director in Charge of Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan was detained by the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from his Monipuripara residence in city’s Tejgaon area and is currently in police custody.
One of the Directors of MSC Sarwar Hossain said, “We are also facing troubles but we will take part in the upcoming BPL. We will form a new team for BPL under supervision of our British coach Sean Lane. We have also decided to recruit five foreign players this year.”
Two times runners-up in BPL Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra are also going to take part in the upcoming BPL. Team Manager of Muktijoddha SKC Md Ariful Islam confirmed it.
In the 2018-19 edition, Arambagh finished highest (5th) amongst the three BPL clubs that subsequently became embroiled in the casino and gambling busts. Mohammedan SC finished a lowly 9th. Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, who last year finished 7th in BPL, complete the trio.
Bashundhara Kings emerged champions in their maiden appearance in the BPL while Dhaka Abahani Limited finished second and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra finished third.
Team BJMC and NoFeL Sporting Club relegated to the lower division of Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football while Bangladesh Police Football Club and Uttar Baridhara SC promoted to BPL from BCL.