If you’ve walked past the tea stalls in Motijheel or scrolled through Bangladeshi sports Twitter lately, you’ve probably noticed the noise. It’s louder. The Bangladesh Premier League football scene—or the BFL as the rebrand officially calls it—is currently navigating its most unpredictable season in years. For a long time, the narrative was basically written before the first whistle: Bashundhara Kings would spend big, dominate the pitch, and cruise to a trophy.
But as of January 2026, the script has flipped.
The 2025-26 season is currently a dead heat at the top. We aren't seeing a one-horse race anymore. Fortis FC is currently sitting level with the Kings at 18 points after nine matches. Seeing a club like Fortis, founded only a few years ago in 2020, staring down the most expensive squad in South Asia is the kind of stuff that keeps the Bangabandhu National Stadium energy alive. It's honestly refreshing.
The Power Shift: Beyond the Big Spenders
For nearly half a decade, Bashundhara Kings were the undisputed giants. They won five titles in a row. They built a private arena. They signed players that other clubs couldn't dream of. But the 2024-25 season changed everything when Mohammedan SC—the traditional powerhouse that hadn't won a professional league title in 22 years—finally broke the curse.
That win by Mohammedan did something to the league's psyche. It proved that the Kings weren't invincible. Now, in the 2025-26 cycle, every match feels like a potential banana skin for the elites.
Take a look at the current standings. You've got:
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- Bashundhara Kings: 18 points (Goal Difference +13)
- Fortis FC: 18 points (Goal Difference +8)
- Rahmatganj MFS: 15 points
- Bangladesh Police FC: 14 points
Even Dhaka Abahani, the most successful club in the history of the professional era with six titles, is currently trailing in fifth. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. And for the fans, it's perfect.
The Tactical Revolution in 2026
Bangladesh Premier League football used to be criticized for being "long-ball and pray." Basically, you’d hoof it to a tall foreign striker and hope for a miracle. That’s changing.
We’re seeing a massive influx of tactical modernization. Coaches like Mario Gómez at the Kings and Masud Parvez Kaiser at Fortis are implementing pressing systems that look more like what you’d see in the Thai League or even the lower tiers of Europe. The average squad age across the league has hovered around 26.2 years. That’s young. It’s energetic.
Foreign recruitment has also gotten smarter. Instead of just looking for "big" players, clubs are hunting for specific profiles. Look at Dorielton at Bashundhara Kings; the guy has already bagged 10 goals this season. But then you have Souleymane Diabate at Abahani, a club legend at this point, who continues to prove that experience is just as vital as raw speed.
The league currently features 49 foreign players across 10 clubs. Most come from Brazil, Nigeria, and Ghana, but there’s a growing contingent from the AFC region too, especially Nepal and India. This mix has forced local Bangladeshi players to level up or get left behind.
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The "Old School" Giants are Waking Up
You can't talk about Bangladesh football without the "Dhaka Derby." The rivalry between Abahani Limited Dhaka and Mohammedan SC is the bedrock of the sport here. For years, Mohammedan was in a slump that felt permanent. But their 2024-25 championship win wasn't a fluke—it was a revival.
Currently, Mohammedan is sitting in 6th place, which might look disappointing on paper. But they’ve kept the core of the team that ended the drought. Their defensive organization under Alfaz Ahmed is still some of the best in the league. They just need to find that finishing touch again.
Meanwhile, Abahani is in a bit of a transition. They’ve got a squad value of roughly €2.77 million, second only to the Kings. Under Maruful Haque, they are trying to reclaim their spot as the "People's Club." It’s a high-pressure job. If you aren’t winning trophies at Abahani, the fans let you know. Fast.
Money, Markets, and Modern Problems
Let’s be real: money is the engine here. The total market value of the league has climbed to about €14.75 million. That’s not pocket change. Commercial partnerships are growing, and streaming platforms have made it easier for fans in rural villages to watch the matches live on their phones.
However, it’s not all sunshine. The 2026 season has seen its fair share of hurdles. There have been lingering concerns about financial stability in the smaller clubs. We saw PWD SC and Arambagh KS struggling at the bottom of the table, partly because they can't match the recruitment budgets of the top four.
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There's also the constant "spelling" confusion. In 2025, the league officially became the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) to stop people from confusing it with the T20 cricket league (the BPL). Honestly, most people still call it the BPL football anyway. Habits die hard.
Why You Should Care About the Mid-Table
The real story of the 2026 season is the "Old Dhaka" club, Rahmatganj MFS. They are currently 3rd. For a club that was founded in 1933 and has spent a lot of its history just trying to survive relegation, this is massive. They don't have the flashy stadium or the million-euro budget. They have grit.
Watching Rahmatganj take points off the "Big Three" has become the highlight of the weekend for neutral fans. It shows that the gap is closing. When a team like Bangladesh Police FC—sitting in 4th—can travel to Gazipur and shut down a high-powered offense, you know the league has reached a new level of competitive balance.
What’s Next for the BFL?
The season is scheduled to run until April 24, 2026. If the current pace holds, we are looking at a photo finish between the Kings and Fortis. The winner doesn't just get the trophy; they get a ticket to the AFC Challenge League qualifying stage. That’s the big stage. That’s where the international recognition happens.
If you're looking to follow the league more closely, here are the actionable steps to stay in the loop:
- Watch the "Dhaka Derby": Even if the standings don't show them at the top, the Abahani vs. Mohammedan match is the one with the most soul.
- Follow the Kings Arena Matches: It’s the only club-owned stadium in the country and usually has the best atmosphere and pitch quality.
- Track the Goalscorers: Watch Dorielton. If he keeps this pace, he’s going to break league records by the end of April.
- Keep an eye on the Relegation Battle: PWD SC and Arambagh are fighting for their lives. The intensity at the bottom is often higher than at the top.
The era of predictable outcomes is over. Whether you’re a lifelong Abahani supporter or a newcomer following the rise of Fortis, the 2026 Bangladesh Premier League football season is proving that the local game is finally getting the respect—and the drama—it deserves.