Fortis make flying start, Abahani stumble

Fortis FC kicked off the 2026-27 Bangladesh Football League (BFL) season with a dominant 6-0 thrashing of newcomers Chittagong City, while traditional giants Abahani dropped points in a goalless draw against PWD Sports Club.

The new campaign officially began at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, where Professional League Committee Chairman and Bangladesh Football Federation Senior Vice President Imrul Hassan opened the event by releasing balloons.

Fortis controlled their match from the very start. Pa Omar Babou and Noriki Akada scored two goals each, whilst Mohammad Ibrahim and Rafayel Tudu added one apiece. Ibrahim, eager to shine after missing the final squad for the Asian Cup, was in brilliant form for his club, providing an assist alongside his goal.

At the Shaheed Miraz-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj, Abahani and PWD played out a 0-0 draw on a difficult, patchy pitch covered in uneven grass and new soil. Despite the surface, the game was full of attacking action. Abahani's Al Amin narrowly missed the post in the 15th minute, but PWD soon took control. Abahani goalkeeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom became the hero with a string of crucial saves. He expertly tipped away a 30th-minute header from Mbida Yoha, who had earlier rushed a shot over the bar.

Pritom continued his fine work after the break, brilliantly saving a side-volley from Flodyn Baloki in the 48th minute and pushing a Mohammad Shadhin strike over the crossbar in the 65th. Abahani had late chances to snatch a win, but Mirajul Islam fired wide from a tight angle, and Emtiyaz Raihan incredibly blazed his shot over the bar from a great position inside the box just a minute later.

In the day's other games, Bangladesh Police FC secured a 1-0 victory over Rahmatganj. Fellow league newcomers City Club made a winning start by beating Brothers Union 2-0, and Fakirerpool Young Men's Club defeated Dhaka Wanderers 2-1.

League chairman Imrul Hassan expressed his joy at the successful kickoff. "After the current committee took charge, we previously hosted two leagues, and both started on time. The context this time was a bit different. There were various obstacles for the clubs. We had to go through a very difficult situation overall. It is a relief that the domestic football season has started," he concluded.