Visa setback leaves Bangladesh women’s contingent divided

The Bangladesh women’s football team flew away for their SAFF Championship hat-trick mission on Thursday morning, but their departure was severely disrupted by an administrative blunder that has left 11 members of the travelling contingent stranded in Dhaka.

​In a frustrating twist to their tournament preparations, national team goalkeepers Rupna Chakma and Mile Akter, alongside nine members of the backroom staff, were unable to board the flight due to unforeseen visa complications.

It is an unwelcome distraction for the squad as they embark on a highly anticipated campaign to secure regional dominance once again.

​The remainder of the squad, featuring the likes of Afeida Khandakar and Ritu Porna Chakma, have flown to Thailand to commence an intensive overseas training camp.

They will remain there until 20 May to fine-tune their tactics before making the journey across to Goa the following day.

​The eighth edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship is slated to kick off on 25 May.

Bangladesh face a stern test right out of the gate, having been drawn into a tricky group alongside the Maldives and tournament hosts India.

​Despite the off-pitch hurdles, the team’s ambition remains sky-high.

Bangladesh are chasing a historic third consecutive South Asian Football Federation crown, having sensationally defeated former hosts Nepal in the previous two finals.

Their build-up to this tournament has been largely rigorous; the squad recently completed a demanding training camp at the Korean EPZ in Chattogram before returning to the capital for two final practice sessions ahead of their flight.

​The immediate priority for the football federation will now be unravelling the bureaucratic red tape to ensure Rupna, Mile, and the stranded staff can swiftly join the rest of the squad before the tournament officially gets underway in Goa.