Dhaka (GNP): The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka came together to celebrate their mutual love of football, with Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider presenting 1,000 footballs made in Pakistan to BFF President Tabith Awal.
Speaking at the event, Haider highlighted Sialkot’s global reputation for producing high-quality sports equipment, noting that the Pakistani city has manufactured the official match balls used at the FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. He described Pakistan’s football manufacturing sector as internationally respected for its craftsmanship and innovation, calling it a point of pride for the country’s industrial capabilities. He added that he hoped the donated balls would help encourage young footballers in Bangladesh.
The two officials also discussed ways to expand sports cooperation between the two countries, agreeing that closer collaboration could help build stronger people-to-people ties, especially among younger generations. Areas discussed included sports medicine, international friendly matches, sports-related commercial ventures, capacity-building programs, and exchanges between college and university teams.
To mark the occasion, the BFF organized an exhibition match between Under-17 women’s football teams, with the High Commissioner praising the players for their skill and potential.
BFF President Tabith Awal thanked the High Commissioner for the donation, saying the footballs would be quickly distributed to young players nationwide to support grassroots development of the sport.
Founded in 1972 following Bangladesh’s independence, the BFF serves as the country’s governing body for football, overseeing the men’s and women’s national teams as well as domestic competitions including the Bangladesh Football League. The federation joined the Asian Football Confederation in 1974 and became a FIFA member in 1976. It is also a founding member of the South Asian Football Federation. Based at BFF Bhaban in Motijheel, Dhaka, the organization is currently headed by President Tabith Awal and oversees football development from the grassroots to the international level.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
