Dhaka Premier Division Football League

Dhaka Premier Division Football League
Organising bodiesBFF
Founded1993
First season1993
Folded2006
CountryBangladesh
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs10 (2005)
Level on pyramid1 (1993–2006)
Relegation toDhaka First Division League
Domestic cup(s)Federation Cup
Independence Cup
DMFA Cup
International cup(s)Asian Club Championship (1996–99)
Asian Cup Winners' Cup (1995–98)
Last championsBrothers Union (2nd title)
Most championshipsMohammedan (4 titles)
Top scorerImtiaz Ahmed Nakib (95)

The Dhaka Premier Division Football League (Bengali: ঢাকা প্রিমিয়ার ডিভিশন ফুটবল লিগ) was the top-tier football league in Bangladesh from 1993 to 2006. It replaced the First Division as both the highest level of the Dhaka Football League and the country's top-tier football competition. Following the introduction of the Premier Division, the First Division was reclassified as the second-tier league until 2006. Together, the Premier Division and First Division constituted the Senior Division of the Dhaka Football League. Both league's were operated by the Dhaka Metropolitan Football Association (DMFA) under the supervision of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

Upon the creation of the country's first national top-tier professional football league, the Bangladesh Football League (formerly B.League) in 2007, the Premier Division was merged with the First Division, and was re-introduced as the second-tier, the sole Senior Division. Finally, after the introduction of a national second-tier professional football league, the Bangladesh Championship League in 2012, it became the third-tier.[1]

History

In 1993, the Dhaka Metropolitan Football Association (DMFA) under the supervision of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) established the Premier Division as the top tier of the Dhaka Football League, replacing the First Division, which subsequently became the second-tier. The inaugural Premier Division season featured the ten highest-placed clubs from the 1991–92 First Division: Dhaka Abahani, Mohammedan, Brothers Union, Agrani Bank, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Arambagh, PWD, Wari, Rahmatganj, and Victoria.[2]

The league's first two seasons were sponsored by Bangladesh Tobacco Company, which agreed to an initial Tk 18 lakh sponsorship deal with the BFF covering both the Premier Division and First Division.[2] Together, the two divisions constituted the Senior Division of the Dhaka Football League, a designation previously held solely by the First Division.[2] The inaugural Premier Division match was played on 11 June 1993 between Dhaka Abahani and PWD, ending in a 1–1 draw. Abahani's Ahmed Ali scored the league's first goal and also received the competition's first red card during the same match. Dhaka Abahani went on to win the inaugural title.[3]

The 3 point system (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss) was implemented from the 1995 Premier Division.[4] The 1997–98 Premier Division title triumph by Muktijoddha Sangsad ended the 17-year league dominance of Dhaka Abahani and Mohammedan.[5][6]

Beginning with the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship, the Premier Division champions qualified for the AFC Club Championship, with the 1996 Premier Division champions Mohammedan becoming the league's first representatives in the competition. In 2000, the National Football League was introduced as a nationwide competition with the top teams from each Premier Division season qualifying. Although it was the first national football league in Bangladesh, it remained outside the domestic league system, operating as a tournament without a promotion and relegation system. Following the reintroduction of the AFC Club Championship after the 2001–02 edition, continental qualification was reserved exclusively for the winners of national competitions. With the introduction of the AFC Cup, the AFC's second-tier club competition, in 2004, qualification places were awarded to the champions of the National Football League and the winners of the Federation Cup.[7]

In 2000, the league also signed a three-year sponsorship deal with National Bank Limited worth Tk 45 lakh. Penalty shootouts to decide tied matches, inspired by the J.League format, were introduced from the 2000 Premier Division. A win in regulation time earned 3 points and a loss 0 points. If a match was level after 90 minutes, it proceeded directly to a penalty shootout, with the shootout winner receiving 2 points and the loser 1 point.[8] The system was reverted from the 2003–04 season.[9]

Following the creation of the country's first national top-tier professional football league, the Bangladesh Football League (formerly B.League), in 2007, the Premier Division was merged with the First Division and reintroduced as the second-tier, becoming the sole Senior Division of the Dhaka Football League.[1]

Competition format and sponsorship

Timeline

Edition Participants Important events ACC slots Rel. slots
1993 10
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • A relegation play-off was held between the 8th and 9th placed teams instead of using goal difference to determine relegation.
 none 2
1994
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • A relegation play-off was held between the 8th and 9th placed teams instead of using goal difference to determine relegation.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none
1995
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • The three-point system was adopted, replacing the previous 2-point-for-a-win system. Under the new system, teams received 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none
1996
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
1
1997–98
  • Held in a double round-robin format, after which the top five teams qualify for the Super League, played in a single round-robin format, while the bottom five teams qualify for the Relegation League, which is also played in a single round-robin format.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
1
1998 not held
1999 10
  • The competition was held in a double round-robin format, after which the top four teams qualify for the Super League, played in a single round-robin format. The bottom six teams qualify for the Lower Six Round, which is also played in a single round-robin format. Following this, the bottom three teams compete in the Relegation League, which is likewise played in a single round-robin format.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division (1997–98):
none 2
2000
  • The competition was held in a double round-robin format, after which the top four teams qualify for the Super 4 League, which is played in a single round-robin format. The top three teams from the Super 4 League then qualify for the Super 3 League, which is also played in a single round-robin format. Meanwhile, the bottom six teams qualify for the Lower Six Round, which is also played in a single round-robin format. Following this, the bottom three teams compete in the Relegation League, which is likewise played in a single round-robin format.
  • Tied matches were decided by penalty shootouts. A regulation-time win earned 3 points and a loss 0 points. If a match was tied after 90 minutes, the penalty shootout winner received 2 points and the loser 1 point.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
1
2001
  • The competition was held in a double round-robin format, after which the top three teams qualify for the Super League, played in a single round-robin format. The bottom seven teams qualify for the Lower Seven Round, which is also played in a single round-robin format. Following this, the bottom three teams compete in the Relegation League, which is likewise played in a single round-robin format.
  • Tied matches were decided by penalty shootouts. A regulation-time win earned 3 points and a loss 0 points. If a match was tied after 90 minutes, the penalty shootout winner received 2 points and the loser 1 point.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none
2002
  • Held in a double round-robin format, after which the top five teams qualify for the Super League, played in a single round-robin format, while the bottom five teams qualify for the Relegation League, which is also played in a single round-robin format.
  • Tied matches were decided by penalty shootouts. A regulation-time win earned 3 points and a loss 0 points. If a match was tied after 90 minutes, the penalty shootout winner received 2 points and the loser 1 point.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none
2003–04
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • The penalty shootout rule for tied matches was abolished.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none 3
2005
  • Held in a double round-robin format.
  • A championship play-off was held between the 1st and 2nd placed teams instead of using goal difference to determine the championship.
  • Following clubs are promoted from First Division:
none
2005–06 not held
2006–07 not held

Relegation

Edition Participants Relegated positions Relegated 1 Relegated 2 Relegated 3 Withdrew Relegated to
1993 10 Relegation play-off (8th vs 9th) & 10th Rahmatganj Victoria None None 1994 First Division
1994 10 Relegation play-off (8th vs 9th) & 10th Bangladesh Boys PWD None None 1995 First Division
1995 10 9th & 10th Rahmatganj Wari None None 1996 First Division
1996 10 9th & 10th East End Bangladesh Boys None None 1997–98 First Division
1997–98 10 9th & 10th Agrani Bank Victoria None None 1998 First Division
1999 First Division
1998 not held
1999 10 9th & 10th Fakirerpool Mirpur Chalantika None None 2000 First Division
2000 10 9th & 10th Badda Jagoroni Victoria None None 2001 First Division
2001 10 9th & 10th Agrani Bank Fakirerpool None None 2002 First Division
2002 10 9th & 10th Rahmatganj Farashganj None None 2003–04 First Division
2003–04 10 8th, 9th & 10th Victoria Badda Jagoroni Dhanmondi Club None 2005 First Division
2005 10 8th, 9th & 10th Dhaka Wanderers Fakirerpool Dipali None 2005–06 First Division
2007–08 Senior Division
2005–06 not held
2006–07 not held

Sponsors

Period Sponsor Tournament name
1993–1994 Bangladesh Tobacco Company STAR Football League[2]
1995 Lever Brothers Limited[10] Lifebuoy Premier League[4]
1996 Danish Condensed Milk Danish Condensed Milk Dhaka Premier League[11]
1997–98 None
1999 Keya Cosmetics Limited Keya Cosmetics Dhaka Premier Division League[12]
2000–2002 National Bank Limited National Bank Dhaka Premier Division Football League[13]
2003–2004 Western Union Western Union Dhaka Premier Division Football League[14]
2005 Premier Bank PLC. Premier Bank Premier Division Football League[15]

Champions

Titles won by club (%)
  1. Mohammedan – 4 (36.4%)
  2. Dhaka Abahani – 3 (27.2%)
  3. Muktijoddha – 2 (18.2%)
  4. Brothers Union – 2 (18.2%)

The list includes the total number of league titles each club has attained.[16]

Club Titles Winning years
Mohammedan41993, 1996, 1999, 2002
Dhaka Abahani31994, 1995, 2001
Muktijoddha21997–98, 2000
Brothers Union22003–04, 2005

Doubles

Two teams have won the double of the Premier Division and the Federation Cup:

Club Number Seasons
Mohammedan
1
 2002
Brothers Union
1
 2005

Records

Top goalscorers

Year Nationality Player Club Goals Source
1993 Russia Oleg Zhivotnikov Mohammedan 13 [17]
1994 Russia Andrey Kazakov Mohammedan 11 [18]
1995 Bangladesh Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib Muktijoddha 12 [4]
1996 Bangladesh Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib Muktijoddha 13 [11]
1997–98 Bangladesh Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib Muktijoddha 13 [19]
1999 Bangladesh Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib Muktijoddha 12
2000 Ghana Kennedy Dhaka Abahani 17 [20]
2001 Nigeria Emeka Ochilifu Muktijoddha 10 [21]
Bangladesh Rezaul Karim Liton Arambagh
2002 Nigeria Colly Barnes Dhaka Abahani 12 [22]
2003–04 Cameroon Etigo Mohammedan 16 [23]
2005 Russia Victor Edwards Brothers Union 11 [24]

Unbeaten teams

1994 : Captained by Monem Munna, Dhaka Abahani played 18 matches in the season, recording 10 wins and 8 draws. They scored 33 goals and conceded 8, finishing with 28 points—three points ahead of runners-up Muktijoddha.[18]

1996 : Mohammedan played 18 matches in the season, recording 15 wins and 3 draws. They scored 36 goals and conceded 9, finishing with 48 points—five points ahead of runners-up Dhaka Abahani.[11]

Asian Competition

AFC Club Championship
Team Appearances 1994–95–1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02
Dhaka Mohammedan1DNPQSDNP–DNP–
Muktijoddha Sangsad2–QSR16

W: Winners RU: Runners-up SF: Semifinals QF: Quarterfinals R16: Round of 16 GS: Group Stage QS: Qualifying Stage DNP: Did not participate W/D: Withdraw

Asian Cup Winners' Cup
Team Appearances 1993–94 1994–95–1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99–2001–02
Dhaka Mohammedan2R2DNPR2–DNP
Dhaka Abahani1––R2

W: Winners RU: Runners-up SF: Semifinals QF: Quarterfinals R1: First Round R2: Second Round IR: Intermediate Round DNP: Did not participate W/D: Withdraw

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Senior Division back". The Daily Star. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "At last the ball rolls". The Bangladesh Times. 11 June 1993. p. 6.
  3. ↑ "Worksmen held Abahani". The Bangladesh Times. 12 June 1993. p. 6.
  4. 1 2 3 Makarov, Sergei; Bobrowsky, Josef. "Bangladesh 1995". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Muktis overrun MSC to emerge new king". The Bangladesh Observer. 12 March 1998. p. 6.
  6. ↑ "ভেঙে গেলো আবাহনী মোহামেডানের ১৭ বছরের জয়ধারা" [Abahani Mohammedan's 17-year winning streak ends] (in Bengali). The Sangbad. 12 March 1998. p. 10.
  7. ↑ "AFC boosts BU, Mukti". archive.thedailystar.net. 12 November 2004. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "MSC open against D'mondi". The Bangladesh Observer. 1 September 2000. p. 5.
  9. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Bangladesh Regional Competitions 2003/04". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 February 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Football League kicks off today". The Bangladesh Observer. 30 June 1995. p. 8.
  11. 1 2 3 Islam, Kazi Rafiqul; King, Ian. "Bangladesh 1996". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Football league kicks off today". The Bangladesh Observer. 22 June 1999. p. 8.
  13. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Bangladesh 2000". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Western Union Senior Division Football League". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Liton treble for 5-star Brothers". The Daily Star. 12 June 2005. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  16. ↑ Hossain, Faaris Na'il. "Bangladesh - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  17. ↑ Bobrowsky, Josef. "Bangladesh 1993". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  18. 1 2 Bobrowsky, Josef; Makarov, Sergei. "Bangladesh 1994". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  19. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Bobrowsky, Josef; King, Ian. "Bangladesh 1997/98". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  20. ↑ "ফুটবল লীগের চূড়ান্ত তালিকা" [Football League Final List] (in Bengali). The Sangbad. 1 December 2000. p. 11.
  21. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Bangladesh 2001/02". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  22. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Bangladesh 2002". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Brothers become big". The Daily Star. 13 March 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "With or without Kottan Mukti finish 4th". archive.thedailystar.net. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
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