Three-year wait ends as First Division Hockey returns

Dhaka's First Division Hockey League has finally returned to the pitch after a three-year absence, bringing a huge wave of relief to local players and fans.

The highly anticipated domestic competition, which was last held in 2022, officially kicked off on Saturday at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Paltan.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, chief of the air staff and president of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), inaugurated the tournament as the chief guest.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, he expressed strong hopes that domestic leagues will now be held on a regular, uninterrupted basis. He thanked the Bangladesh government for taking timely steps to take the country's sports arena forward, while also making a direct appeal to hockey clubs and corporate sponsors to step up and keep the domestic game alive.

Before officially declaring the tournament open, the BHF president urged all players to maintain strict discipline and uphold the true spirit of fair play on the pitch.

A total of 11 clubs are battling it out for the title this season. The participating teams are Wari Club, Hockey Dhaka United, PWD SC, Combined SC, Mukto Bihongo Torun Sangho, Bachelors SC, Farashganj SC, Shishu Kishor Sangho, Dhaka Wanderers, Rayer Bazar SC, and Dhaka Young Star Club.

After a frustrating three-season wait, the long-awaited return of the domestic league has sparked genuine excitement across the local hockey community.

Senior officials from the Bangladesh Air Force and the BHF joined club representatives and players in the stands to mark the opening of the new season.