United News of Bangladesh

Ritu Porna Chakma, a key member of Bangladesh’s SAFF-winning women’s football team, has alleged she is facing obstruction in the construction of a house promised by local authorities following her contribution to the nation’s success. Ritu, who scored in the final against Nepal in the last SAFF Championship and was named the tournament’s best player, made the complaint in a Facebook post on Saturday. She said she was promised a house and a road to her home in Rangamati by the district administration after Bangladesh’s first SAFF victory in 2022. While fellow footballer Rupna Chakma received a house then, Ritu said her promises were never fulfilled. “I didn’t ask for anything for myself, only a road for my villagers,” Ritu wrote. “The administration promised both road repairs and a house on a selected plot, which I agreed to. But nothing was implemented.” Following the 2024 SAFF win, Ritu said she received a similar royal reception and was hopeful that previous promises would now be fulfilled. Bangladesh team flies to Kolkata Thursday for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against India She said the local UNO recently informed her of a budget allocation for the road construction and even installed a tube well at her home with personal initiative. According to Ritu, she was later told the district commissioner approved the house construction and allocated funds. “I was very happy and excited,” she wrote. “But now I’m hearing that certain groups are trying to block the construction. Is there no space for me in my own area?” Ritu ended her post with disappointment: “I’ve been representing Bangladesh since 2017, but have I received the respect I deserve from my own district?” Local authorities have not yet responded to her claims.

Matsushima Sumaya, a member of Bangladesh’s SAFF-winning women’s national football team, has claimed she received numerous death and rape threats in recent days. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sumaya expressed her distress, stating, “Over the past few days, I have received countless death and rape threats—words that have shattered me in ways I never imagined.” She further shared her emotional turmoil, saying, “I don’t know how long it will take for me to heal from this trauma, but I do know that no one should have to go through this just for following their dreams.” Reflecting on her sacrifices for football, Sumaya wrote, “Ever since I chose this path, my dream was to inspire young students whose parents only wanted them to focus on studies. I wanted to show that passion and dedication can break barriers. But today, I sit here with regret—regret for sacrificing my education, my family, my Eids, all to serve a country that doesn’t know how to appreciate our struggles.” Her statement comes amid an ongoing dispute between national team players and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) over the reinstatement of head coach Peter Butler. Eighteen out of 30 national team players, including Sumaya, have boycotted the training camp, demanding Butler’s removal. Defender of first SAFF winning Bangladesh Women’s team Ankhi Khatun set to marry her fan The English coach, who led the team during their SAFF Women’s Championship title defence in Nepal last year, has faced allegations of misconduct. In a three-page statement issued before a press conference at the BFF House on Thursday, senior players, including Sabina Khatun and Sanjida Akhter, accused Butler of “questioning the players’ personal lives, misbehaving with them, and dividing the team.” “We won’t train under Peter Butler in the camp until the BFF president takes necessary steps to resolve the issue,” the statement read. The players also highlighted the uncertainty regarding their status, noting that their contracts were not renewed after October. “As the BFF did not renew our contracts after October, they have no legal grounds to take action against us. Yet, if they consider punishing us and remain adamant about keeping Butler, we will resign together,” the letter added.