Chattogram City FC confirmed their promotion to the Bangladesh Football League with three matches to spare following a 2-1 win over Chittagong Abahani in the Bangladesh Championship League on Wednesday.

The win took Chattogram City to 36 points from 15 matches -- 11 wins, three draws and one defeat -- leaving them nine points clear of second-placed City Club and 13 ahead of Dhaka Wanderers Club, with both sides having four matches remaining.

Led by Professor Dr Syed Saiful Islam, the club began its journey as Chittagong Boys Club in 2010 and steadily climbed the ranks before making their second-tier debut this season, according to acting secretary Mohammad Nazimuddin.

“Everyone at the club is delighted with having reached the BFL with three matches left,” Nazimuddin told The Daily Star over the phone.

“We have blessings of football-loving people of Chattogram and the backing of businesspeople. We will soon apply for club licensing to play in the top tier, which was always our target,” he added, noting that the club had assembled a strong, well-funded squad featuring top-level players.

If formalities are completed, Chattogram City FC will become only the third club from the port city to feature in the top tier, after Chittagong Abahani and Chittagong Mohammedan.