The inaugural Prothom Alo-Star News women’s football tournament is set to begin this Saturday, bringing together 36 academy teams from across Bangladesh. The competition aims to foster talent development and promote women’s empowerment through sport.

The participating teams are divided into six groups, with preliminary matches scheduled to take place in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Chittagong, and Dhaka. Following the group stage, eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and final are planned for October 25 to 31 at the Daffodil University ground.

At a draw ceremony held on Wednesday in Dhaka, several notable figures in Bangladeshi football expressed optimism about the tournament’s potential impact. Among those present were former national players Alfaz Ahmed, Mamunul Islam, and Zahid Hasan Emily, as well as acclaimed coach Golam Rabbani Choton.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) vice-president Fahad Karim highlighted the challenge of sustaining the women’s football league annually and described the newly launched tournament as a promising addition to the national team’s talent pipeline. “We at the BFF have been struggling to organise the women’s football league every year, and I think this different initiative will strengthen the national team’s pipeline,” he said.

Daffodil University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. M R Kabir emphasized the tournament’s role as a platform for women to display and improve their football skills while inspiring wider female participation in the sport. Prothom Alo’s head of sports, Utpal Shuvro, noted the success of the newspaper’s inter-university football competitions over the past three years and expressed hopes that the women’s tournament would similarly engage and inspire football academies nationwide. He also recalled Prothom Alo’s prior support for the women’s national team, including a donation of 10 million taka following Bangladesh’s first SAFF Women’s Championship victory in 2022.

Star News CEO Moksedul Kamal underscored that the media organizations’ involvement extends beyond sports coverage, positioning their efforts as part of a broader commitment to advancing sports development in Bangladesh.

Qumrun Nahar Dana, chairman of the tournament committee, reflected on the difficulties faced by women’s football in the early 2000s and called for collective support to ensure the success of the event. The launch of the tournament marks a significant step toward elevating women’s football and empowering female athletes throughout the country.