TL;DR:
- Bangladesh women’s football team won their second consecutive SAFF Championship by defeating Nepal 2-1 in the final.
- The Ministry of Youth and Sports awarded the team one crore BDT, presented by Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan.
- The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also announced a reward of 20 lakh BDT for the team’s achievement.
- Players Monika Chakma and Ritu Porna Chakma scored the goals that secured the victory in Kathmandu.
The Bangladesh women’s football team, fresh off their historic victory in the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, received a hero’s welcome upon their return to Dhaka on Thursday, October 31. The team, which secured its second consecutive SAFF title by defeating Nepal 2-1 in the final held at Kathmandu’s Dasharath Stadium, was greeted with celebrations and accolades from both government officials and sports organizations.
In recognition of their remarkable achievement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports awarded the team one crore BDT. The announcement was made by Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Youth and Sports Adviser, during a special reception at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters. Before the formal announcement to the media, Bhuiyan handed over a check for one crore BDT to team captain Sabina Khatun and coach Peter Butler. Several BFF officials were present at the event to honor the team.
The celebrations began earlier in the day when the team arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 2:15 pm. They were greeted by BFF officials with flowers and heartfelt congratulations. From there, they embarked on a jubilant open-roof bus procession through Dhaka, culminating in an official reception at the BFF headquarters.
In addition to the government’s recognition, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also announced a reward of 20 lakh BDT for the women’s football team. Faruk Ahmed, president of the BCB, expressed his pride in the team’s back-to-back victories during a break in the Bangladesh vs. South Africa cricket match in Chattogram. “We are proud to be able to reward them for making us proud twice in a row,” he said. The BCB had previously awarded 50 lakh BDT to the team following their first SAFF Championship win in 2022.
The 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship final was a hard-fought battle against Nepal, who had reached their sixth final but fell short once again. Bangladesh’s goals came from standout players Monika Chakma and Ritu Porna Chakma, both of whom played pivotal roles throughout the tournament. This victory mirrored their triumph in 2022 when they also defeated Nepal to claim their first-ever SAFF title.
The team’s success has been hailed as a significant milestone for women’s football in Bangladesh, further solidifying their dominance in South Asian football.
