The country’s shuttlers are eager for the return of the First Division Badminton League, set to get underway on Friday after an 11-year absence, even though player payments remain relatively modest.
The league had been suspended since 2015 following disputes involving Knit Concern Badminton Club and Biman Bangladesh during the previous edition. The deadlock was broken after the current ad hoc committee of the Bangladesh Badminton Federation managed to bring seven clubs back into the competition.
Although only seven teams are participating, the league is expected to be competitive, with several clubs attempting to recruit foreign players. No side appears a clear favourite in either the men’s or women’s events, which include singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories.
The late withdrawals of Bashundhara Kings and Ahban Badminton Club, along with the decision to scrap relegation, are believed to have reduced clubs’ urgency to spend heavily on players.
Still, title aspirants like Knit Concern and Gulshan Badminton Club offered top male shuttlers between Tk 2 lakh and Tk 3.5 lakh, while female players received between Tk 80,000 and Tk 1 lakh.
“I still don’t know how much I will receive from my team, Maha Sporting Club, but I’m really excited to play the league for the first time in my career,” said national player Mizanoor Rahman, who, alongside Rahatun Nayeem, forms the country’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair. Mizanoor, who had initially been set to join Bashundhara Kings before their withdrawal, suggested the lack of relegation could lower competitiveness.
Al Amin Jumar, ranked second in the singles category, said he was satisfied with Gulshan Badminton Club’s offer despite also originally planning to join Kings. “We are sacrificing [part of] our payment compared to what Bashundhara Kings offered, but I’m satisfied with what I’m getting from Gulshan,” said Jumar, whose team will include national players Gourav Singha, Abdul Jahir Tanvir, Nayeem, Urmi Akter, Nasima Khatun and Pritha.
Top-ranked women’s singles player Urmi Akter said she was thrilled by the league’s return. “This will be our first first-division league, so we’ll earn money from a club for the first time. I hope the league continues regularly,” she said.
BBF general secretary Rasel Kabir Sumon said the champions and runners-up would receive Tk 3 lakh and Tk 2 lakh, respectively, while the best male and female players would also be rewarded with household appliances such as televisions and refrigerators.
