Бангладештегі Баңбандху Ұлттық стадионы

Stadium and a multipurpose sports arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangabandhu National Stadium , formerly known as the Dhaka Stadium, is a multipurpose sports arena and the national stadium of Bangladesh. Located in the Motijheel area of Dhaka, it is predominantly used for football matches and serves as the home venue for the Bangladesh national football team. The stadium is well known for hosting a high profile international friendly between Argentina and Nigeria in 2011. The stadium has undergone multiple renovations. Prior to the refurbishment for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, its capacity was nearly 55,000. Despite its reduced capacity of 36,000 after renovation, it remains the largest stadium in Bangladesh. The current name, bestowed to honor Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation and also known as "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bengal," adds a significant historical touch.

The Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka is the only venue in the world to have hosted an inaugural home fixture for two Test nations: Pakistan and Bangladesh. India were the visitors on both occasions: in 1954–55, when Dacca was the capital of East Pakistan, and in 1976–77, when the first unofficial Test match was held between Bangladesh against the touring MCC from England. And the following year the Sri Lankan national team visited Bangladesh to play a few one day, two day and three day unofficial matches against BCCB XI and Bangladesh National team. After that teams like Deccan Blues from India and MCC toured Bangladesh several times to play against BCCB XI and Bangladesh national team respectively. Alongside cricket, the stadium was also known to host the historic Dhaka League, which was the country's premier football league even before independence of Bangladesh. In the 80s when football's popularity was skyrocketing, the Dhaka Derby attracted thousands of fans into the stadium from all over the country. The stadium regularly hosted the now defunct Aga Khan Gold Cup, which by many is considered to be first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia. The 1978 AFC Youth Championship marked the first major international tournament hosted by both the stadium and the country. The stadium underwent renovations for the occasion, and all 40 matches took place there, with Korea Republic and Iraq being crowned joint champions. The stadium has a history of hosting number of historic sports event starting from cricket, football, hockey to boxing. In February 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali fought an exhibition boxing match at the stadium, the then Dacca Stadium, with a 12 year old Bengali boy.

With a purpose built cricket stadium being constructed on the outskirts of the city, the ground was taken out of commission at the end of the 2004–05 season, and handed over for the sole use of the Bangladesh national football team. Other than being used for the 2011 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony, the stadium has been mainly used for football purposes since the turn of the decade. In March 2005, the Bangladesh Football Federation organised the Independence Day Gold Cup to mark its permanent possession of the stadium. The stadium has hosted the SAFF Championship three times to date. First during the 2003 edition when Bangladesh lifted the trophy for the first time in history, in front of 46,000 local supporters. Since then the 2009 and most recently the 2018 editions of the tournament have all taken place at the stadium. Ever since the inception of the Bangladesh Premier League, in 2007, the stadium has been used has been used to host majority of the league seasons. On 6 September 2011, Bangabandhu National Stadium hosted an international friendly football match between the full strength Argentina and Nigeria teams, featuring Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano and Mikel John Obi among the other star players of both nations. Argentina won 3–1 with goals from then Real Madrid teammates Gonzalo Higuaín and Ángel Di María, and an own goal from Nigeria's Elderson Echiéjilé with Chinedu Obasi scoring Nigeria's lone goal. Bangladeshi referee Tayeb Shamsuzzaman officiated the game, which drew 25,000 spectators despite ticket prices starting at US$100. On 13 November 2020, the stadium hosted the first of two matches between Bangladesh and Nepal during the Mujib Borsho Fifa International Football Series, arranged by the Bangladesh Football Federation. Bangladesh won the first game of the series 2–0, while the second game which was held four days later, finished goalless which lead the hosts to clinch the series on aggregate. The friendlies helped football return to Bangabandhu National Stadium and the country after a long absence due to the rise of COVID 19 cases worldwide.

The stadium underwent its initial renovation in preparation for the 1978 AFC Youth Championship, the country's first major international tournament hosting. With a budget of Tk 1.2cr, the East Gallery was constructed, and the country's first ever women's gallery was added. Additionally, the VIP gallery received a redecoration. The newly renovated stadium hosted a total of forty games from played under floodlights. The renovation includes field development, construction of sheds in galleries, installation of chairs in galleries, modernization of toilets for international and local players, installation of floodlights, CCTV cameras, generators, LED giant screens, new athletic tracks, digital advertising boards, media centers, ticket counters, Dope Test Room Building, Medical Room, VIP Box Construction, President's Box, Toilet development, medical equipment, sub station equipment, AC, and solar panel supply.

Date Competition Team Res Team Attendance 20 January 2003 Finals 1(5)–1(3) (pens) 46,000 20 January 2003 Third place match 2–1 (a. s. d. e. t.) N/A 18 January 2003 Semi finals 2–1 (a. s. d. e. t.) N/A 18 January 2003 Semi finals 2–1 N/A 15 January 2003 Group B 3–0 15,000 15 January 2003 Group B 2–3 15,000 14 January 2003 Group A 1–1 N/A 14 January 2003 Group A 1–0 N/A 13 January 2003 Group B 1–0 20,000 13 January 2003 Group B 2–0 N/A 12 January 2003 Group A 4–0 N/A 12 January 2003 Group A 6–0 N/A 11 January 2003 Group B 1–0 55,000 11 January 2003 Group B 6–0 25,000 10 January 2003 Group A 1–0 N/A 10 January 2003 Group A 0–1 N/A

Edition Season Tenants Matches played Source1st2007Abahani Limited Dhaka Arambagh KS Brothers Union Farashganj SC Mohammedan SC Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Rahmatganj MFS Sheikh Russel KC 812nd2008–09 803rd2009–10 744th2010–11The stadium was not used for the fourth edition of the league.5th2012Abahani Limited Dhaka Arambagh KS Brothers Union Farashganj SC Mohammedan SC Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Rahmatganj MFS Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 866th2012–13Abahani Limited Dhaka Arambagh KS Brothers Union Mohammedan SC Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Team BJMC 567th2013–14Abahani Limited Dhaka Brothers Union Feni Soccer Club Mohammedan SC Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Team BJMC Uttar Baridhara119 8th2014–15Abahani Limited Dhaka Brothers Union Farashganj SC Mohammedan SC Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Team BJMC 909th2016No permanent tenant. 6210th2017–18 13211th2018–19Abahani Limited Dhaka Brothers Union Chittagong Abahani Mohammedan SC Rahmatganj MFS Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Team BJMC 7212th2019–20Abahani Limited Dhaka Bangladesh Police Brothers Union Rahmatganj MFS Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Team BJMC Uttar Baridhara 2213th2020–21Bangladesh Police Brothers Union Chittagong Abahani Muktijoddha Sangsad KC Rahmatganj MFS Saif Sporting Club Sheikh Russel KC Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 12514th2021–22Under renovation. 15th2022–23