Dhanmondi Sports Club rebuild stalls

Dhanmondi Sports Club’s plan to become a modern, professional and self-sustaining sports institution appears to have stalled despite Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque’s strong pledge in May.

During his 9 May visit, Aminul called for turning the club into a complete sports complex by adding archery, shooting, swimming, table tennis, badminton and squash alongside football, cricket and hockey.

However, club sources allege that little visible progress has been made, while disputes over the ground, academy, management and finances have intensified. Questions have also emerged over the influence of the Dhanmondi Society in the club’s affairs and the management of the Dhanmondi ground.

The club’s financial structure is another concern, with sources alleging a lack of transparency over academy income and increased cash transactions.

For nearly a decade, Safwan Sobhan and Ishtiaque Sadeque have supported Dhanmondi Sports Club’s football, cricket and other activities, according to club sources. On 8 May, Ishtiaque, convener of the club’s ad hoc committee, announced a plan to make the club sustainable within three years and end its dependence on donations by generating its own revenue.

However, sources claim the ad hoc committee’s role subsequently weakened, while a group linked to the Dhanmondi Society gained greater influence over club activities.

The uncertainty has also begun to worry the club’s cricketers, particularly with Dhanmondi preparing to return to the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League after winning the 2025-26 First Division Cricket League. Players are concerned about the club’s plans for team management, player retention, coaching staff, budgets and training facilities ahead of the new season.

The club has also announced plans to return to football, making clarity over its overall management and financial structure increasingly important.

Ultimately, the club’s future will depend on whether it can ensure transparency, accountability and professional management while reinvesting its income into player development, coaching and infrastructure.