Dhaka Senior Division Football League
 | |
| Organising bodies | Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| First season | 2007 |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 17 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 (2007–2011) 3 (2012–present) |
| Promotion to | Bangladesh Championship League |
| Relegation to | Dhaka Second Division League |
| Current champions | Jatrabari KC (1st title) (2025–26) |
| Most championships | Fakirerpool (3 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Bangladesh Football Federation (on Facebook and YouTube) |
| Website | bff.com.bd |
| Current: 2025–26 Dhaka Senior Division League | |
Dhaka Senior Division Football League (Bengali: ঢাকা সিনিয়র ডিভিশন ফুটবল লিগ), or the First Division Football League, is the third-tier football league in Bangladesh.[1] It is the top division of the Dhaka Football League and, although it is a district football league, it has allowed entry to teams from outside Dhaka.
Upon the creation of the country's first national top-tier professional football league, the B. League in 2007, the Dhaka Premier Division League was merged with Dhaka First Division League, and re-introduced as the second-tier football league, the sole Dhaka Senior Division League. Finally, after the introduction of a national second-tier professional football league, the Bangladesh Championship League in 2012, it became the third-tier.[2]
The league is the highest level of semi-professional football in the country, and the two top-finishing teams are automatically promoted to professional football through the Bangladesh Championship League.[3] The league is run by Dhaka Metropolitan Football League Committee (DMFLC) under the supervision of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
History
In 2007, the B.League was launched as the country's new top-tier and first ever professional football league by the Bangladesh Football Federation. The B.League now known as the Bangladesh Football League, allows clubs outside of Dhaka to participate, as BFF attempted to decentralise domestic football. With the introduction of the new top-tier, the Dhaka Premier Division League was merged with the Dhaka First Division League (second-tier 1993–2007), and re-introduced as the country's new second-tier, Dhaka Senior Division Football League. In 2012, after the introduction of a second-tier professional football league, the Bangladesh Championship League, which is also open to clubs outside of Dhaka, it became the third-tier. The winner and runner-up of the semi-professional league will enter professional football through the Bangladesh Championship League, while the bottom three teams will be relegated to the Dhaka Second Division League.[4]
Structure
- As of February 2025.
| Level | Division | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh Football League 10 clubs  teams relegated |
Professional |
| 2 | Bangladesh Championship League 10 clubs  2 teams promoted 2 teams relegated | |
| 3 | Dhaka Senior Division League 18 clubs 4 teams promoted 2 teams relegated |
Semi-professional |
| 4 | Dhaka Second Division League 15 clubs 2 teams promoted 2 teams relegated | |
| 5 | Dhaka Third Division League 15 clubs 2 teams promoted 2 teams relegated | |
| 6 | Bangladesh Pioneer League Unlimited number of clubs 4 teams promotedNo relegation |
Amateur |
Sponsorship
| Period | Sponsor | Tournament name |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Popular Life Insurance | Popular Life Insurance Senior Division Football League[5] |
| 2014 | Bengal Group of Industries | Bengal Group Dhaka Senior Division League[6] |
| 2017 | Saif Powertec | Saif Powertec Senior Division Football League[7] |
| 2018–19 | TVS Motor Company | TVS Senior Division Football League/TVS Dhaka Metropolis Senior Division Football League.[8] |
| 2021–2024 | Bashundhara Group | Bashundhara Group Senior Division Football League[9] |
Previous winners
| Year | Champions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Fakirerpool | Dhaka Premier Division League merged with the Dhaka First Division Football League and re-introduced as the Dhaka Senior Division League, the second-tier of the B.League.[11] However, Fakirerpool were not invited to enter the 2008–09 B.League.[12] |
| 2008–09 | Not held | The winners and runners-up of the Bashundhara Club Cup Championship Football were given entry to the 2009–10 Bangladesh League (B.League).[13] |
| 2010 | Fakirerpool | The champions, Fakirerpool, and the runners-up, Victoria SC, were both denied entry to the 2010–11 Bangladesh League (B.League). |
| 2011 | Not held | |
| 2012–13 | Badda Jagoroni | Introduction of the Bangladesh Championship League as the second-tier, saw the league become the third-tier of the Bangladesh Football League (Bangladesh League).[14] |
| 2013–14 | Not held | |
| 2014 | Fakirerpool | |
| 2015 | Not held | |
| 2016 | Not held | |
| 2017 | Swadhinata | |
| 2018–19 | Kawran Bazar | |
| 2019–20 | Not held | |
| 2020–21 | Not held | |
| 2021–22 | Somaj Kallyan | The champions, Somaj Kallyan KS Mugda, and the runners-up, Jatrabari KC, failed to attain professional league license, thus, third-place, PWD Sports Club, were promoted to the 2023–24 Bangladesh Championship League.[15] |
| 2022–23 | Not held | |
| 2023–24 | Not completed | Abandoned due to the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[16] |
| 2024–25 | Not held | |
| 2025–26 | Jatrabari KC |
Champions
Champions by tier
The list contains the total number of league titles that each club has attained by its different tiers.[10]
| Club | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Second tier (2007–2011) | ||
| Fakirerpool | 2 | 2007–08, 2010 |
| Third tier (2012–present) | ||
| Badda Jagoroni | 1 | 2012–13 |
| Fakirerpool | 1 | 2014 |
| Swadhinata | 1 | 2017 |
| Kawran Bazar | 1 | 2018–19 |
| Somaj Kallyan | 1 | 2021–22 |
| Jatrabari KC | 1 | 2025–26 |
Champions by team
The list includes the total number of league titles each club has attained.[10]
| Club | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Fakirerpool | 3 | 2007–08, 2010, 2014 |
| Badda Jagoroni | 1 | 2012–13 |
| Swadhinata | 1 | 2017 |
| Kawran Bazar | 1 | 2018–19 |
| Somaj Kallyan | 1 | 2021–22 |
| Jatrabari KC | 1 | 2025–26 |
Top scorers
| Year | Nationality | Player | Club | Goals | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 |  |
Munna Biswas | Somaj Kallyan | 9 | [17] |
| 2025–26 | |
Md Masrafi Islam | Mohakhali Ekadosh | 18 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Dhaka Football League and the days gone by". Dhaka Tribune. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ↑ "Senior Division back". The Daily Star. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ↑ ১৯ দল নিয়ে তৃতীয় বিভাগ ফুটবল লীগ Archived 12 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine (in Bengali) Jugantor. Retrieved 12 August 2021
- ↑ "Bashundhara Group First and Second Division Football get underway". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ↑ "Senior Div football kicks off". The Daily Star. 7 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ↑ "Snr football from today". The Daily Star. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ↑ "DMFLC promises regular leagues". The Daily Star. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ↑ "Sr Div Football: Jatrabari KC win with Shamim's hat-trick". UNB. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ↑ "Bashundhara Group First and Second Division Football get underway". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- 1 2 3 Bangladesh - List of Champions: Dhaka League Archived 15 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine Rsssf. Retrieved 12 August 2021
- ↑ "Senior Division football from Dec 31". The Daily Star. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
- ↑ "Professional League (B. League) 2008/09". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ↑ "Renamed League kicks off Sunday". The Daily Star. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ↑ "Thick on domestic, thin on international". The Daily Star. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ↑ বিসিএল খেলবে পিডব্লিউডি ও ফরাশগঞ্জ. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024.
- ↑ কোন পথে হাঁটছে বাফুফে?. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 26 December 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Samaj Kalyan & Krira Prisad Mugda emerge champions". www.footballbangladesh.com. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
Further reading
- Das, Raktim (4 April 2022). কলকাতার মোহামেডানের সঙ্গে গাঁটছড়া বাঁধছে ঢাকার মোহামেডান [Mohammedan of Dhaka is tying knot with Mohammedan of Kolkata]. banglatribune.com (in Bengali). Kolkata. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- Tuhin, Saifur Rahaman (16 February 2023). ঢাকার মাঠ মাতানো বিদেশি ফুটবলাররা [Those iconic foreign players during the golden days in Dhaka football]. Durbin24.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- Alam, Shamsul (14 June 2020). ঢাকা মোহামেডান স্পোর্টিং ক্লাবের ফুটবলে গৌরবোজ্জ্বল উত্থানের বছর ★১৯৫৬★ [Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club's glorious rise in football ★1956★]. Facebook. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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