BGMEA Cup 2026 trophy unveiled amid festive atmosphere
The trophy for the BGMEA Cup 2026, one of the country’s major corporate football tournaments, was unveiled on Saturday amid a festive atmosphere, with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also celebrating its partnership with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
The trophy unveiling, BGMEA-BFF partnership celebration and mega auction for the tournament were held at the Nurul Quader Auditorium of the BGMEA Complex.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque attended the event as the chief guest. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan and BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim, along with leaders of the two organisations, formally unveiled the trophy.
The event was chaired by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, while BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim attended as a special guest.
In his welcome speech, BGMEA Secretary General Major General Dr Md Sahedul Islam (retd) highlighted the significance of sports activities in strengthening ties within the garment industry.
BGMEA Director and Director-in-Charge of its Sports Committee Shah Raied Chowdhury presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining different aspects of the partnership between BGMEA and BFF.
A special online video commercial featuring women garment workers was also screened at the event. The video highlighted their professional skills as well as their participation in football on the field.
BGMEA Vice-President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman said many members of the second generation of garment entrepreneurs were now joining the industry, and such tournaments would help strengthen their connection with the sector.
He also called for allocating one of the unused or abandoned playgrounds in Dhaka to BGMEA.
“If a playground is allocated to us, BGMEA will take responsibility for its modernisation and maintenance with support from corporate sponsors,” he said.
BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim said BGMEA was a well-organised family and expressed hope that the two organisations would work together to further enhance Bangladesh’s image internationally.
In his presidential speech, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said that although BGMEA is a trade organisation, it also plays a role in various social and national initiatives.
He said BGMEA was interested in developing and maintaining suitable playgrounds in Dhaka under its own management if such facilities were allocated to the organisation.
Mahmud Hasan Khan also said work was underway to introduce sports into the curriculum of BGMEA University. He expressed hope that sports would also be incorporated into the curriculum of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Pratisthan (BKSP).
Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque said the country’s sports sector had not been developed with the level of professionalism needed over the past 56 years.
He said the government had initiated a process of transformation in the sector, including the introduction of sports allowances for athletes and efforts to involve corporate houses more closely with sports.
Responding to BGMEA’s request for a playground, the state minister gave a positive assurance regarding the allocation of a field in Uttara’s third phase area of Dhaka.
During the programme, BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim presented special jerseys to the chief guest and the BGMEA president.
The event concluded with the mega auction involving 16 teams, formally setting the stage for the final competition, which is scheduled to begin on October 22, 2026.
Senior BGMEA Vice-President Enamul Haque Khan, Vice-President Md Rezwān Selim, Vice-President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, Directors Shah Raied Chowdhury, Nafis-Ud-Daula and Zoardar Mohammad Hossain Kamar Alam, former Director Md Imranur Rahman, Sports Committee Chairman Md Sazzad Ali Khan, Sustainable Energy Committee Chairman Md Saifur Rahman Sapu, members of various BGMEA committees and prominent entrepreneurs from the garment sector were also present at the event.
