1979 to 2025: Glory echoes across eras, cries constant

Bangladesh's latest women's football triumph has rekindled a 46-year-old legacy.

Year 1979: just around eight years into its independence, Bangladesh was still rising from the ruins of war. Amid all the struggles, and despite lacking structure or international experience, football emerged as a rare and unifying joy in the red-and-green hearts of a young nation.

At the time, Bangladesh hosted its first major international tournament in the form of the Asian Cup Qualifiers. All eyes were on Dhaka Stadium as Qatar and Afghanistan arrived.

While preparation was thin and infrastructure limited, footballing dreams burned bright here. With fierce determination, the nation earned a place in the Asian Cup finals.

It's a milestone still treasured with pride.

Back then, a 14-inch black-and-white TV was a luxury, drawing the entire neighbourhood around it; and where TVs were absent, the radio saved the day.

At the stadium, fans without tickets resorted to climbing walls and trees to catch a glimpse. Galleries filled hours early; crowds outside matched those inside. At times, even tear gas was not enough to tame the football frenzy.

Each match had the aura of a festival, and the stars of that era became living legends. Kazi Salahuddin's magical dribbles; Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu's sensational goals; Hasanuzzaman Bablu's inch-perfect through passes; and Mohammad Abu Yusuf's rock-solid defence -- all turned into fond recollections passed down like myth.

One of the finest defenders of that time, Mohammad Abu Yusuf, recalled: "If I speak of the excitement and popularity of football back then, people could think I'm telling stories. National team matches or Abahani versus Mohammedan -- they felt like Eid celebrations.

"People came by truckloads from Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi. The number outside the stadium was equal to those inside. Those who didn't get tickets would force their way in. Even mounted police couldn't handle the crowd. Tear gas had to be used at times."

Chunnu, the only Bangladeshi to score in open play in an Asian Cup, was overcome with emotion remembering those days.

"We didn't have time to think too much back then -- it just happened. We played against Qatar and Afghanistan. We drew with Qatar and beat Afghanistan. We were thrilled. In those days of black-and-white TV, we were promised a 14-inch set if we qualified for the Asian Cup. And later, they kept that promise."

Bangladesh began with a 2–2 draw against Afghanistan, followed by a 1–1 draw with Qatar. In a do-or-die return match, they edged Afghanistan 3–2 to seal a historic place in the finals, despite a 3–1 loss to Qatar in their last group game.

In the main round, Bangladesh couldn't notch a win -- falling to North Korea and Syria in hard-fought battles, and suffering heavy defeats to Iran and China. Yet, that journey stands as a golden chapter in Bangladesh's football legacy.

Reflecting on their struggles at the main stage, Yusuf explained: "Look who we played: teams like Iran, regulars at the World Cup. We also used to play South Korea, Japan, Iraq; and they invited us regularly.

"Because of those strong opponents, our ranking suffered. Nowadays, Bangladesh plays against much weaker teams we never even faced before. Now we have to play a qualifier for the qualifiers."

Though the team struggled in the main round, the nation's love for football only deepened. The players became household names -- idolised like heroes.

"Our popularity was sky-high back then," recalled Chunnu. "Every player was a star. But over time, that faded. Back then, it didn't matter if you played for Abahani or Mohammedan, as everyone gave everything for the country. Football was something unparalleled -- almost unreal -- and words can't truly capture it."

As the years rolled on, that fervent popularity gradually waned. Now, after 46 long years, a Bangladeshi team has once again broken through to the Asian Cup finals. This time, though, it's the women who have made history.

For the first time ever, Bangladesh will feature in the final round of the Women's Asian Cup -- set for March 2026 in Australia. The nation is awash with pride and celebration, as this landmark achievement becomes a unifying symbol of national triumph.

The heroes of 1979 are proud too. Former midfielder Bablu reflected: "There was no real culture of women's football here.

"Only the federation has nurtured them over the past 15 years. Back then, the same girl would play football, cricket, athletics, handball -- everything. But now, after 15–20 years, these girls have come a long way.

"People said they couldn't even kick a ball, but they've become SAFF champions and now, Asian Cup qualifiers. It's a point of pride for me as a Bangladeshi footballer. These girls, coming from the poorest of homes, have earned this with their sweat and talent. History is made -- and they've made it."

Still, a tinge of regret lingers among the heroes of the past: football should have advanced much further by now. Instead, it almost disappeared.

And Bablu pointed fingers at the administrators.

"We played when football was incredibly popular. But the downfall began slowly -- for many reasons. Mainly politics.

"Every new government used football to push their own agenda. They tried to claim even the smallest successes as their own, losing sight of the real goal. Win one game out of ten, and they'd say Bangladesh football has turned around; we're ready for the World Cup! This hunger for political mileage has destroyed our game. That political hijacking of our rare successes -- that still hurts," he explained.

Chunnu added that the officials of the time failed to capitalise on football's popularity:

"They had no long-term vision. They thought football would automatically progress as the country progressed. But football needs a plan -- a target. And they never thought that far. That's why the game lost its grip."

Yet all three former stars hope that this recent women's success can help football reclaim its former glory. But for that, the government must take the lead, Yusuf stressed: "Football still has fans. But we don't have heroes like we used to.

"Who will the supporters lift onto their shoulders now? We must first know why we play. "These days, people don't even go to play -- no physical activity, no fields. Even the annual school sports are gone -- and when they happen, it's only on paper. We must get boys and girls back to the fields. The authorities must act first."

Chunnu called for a proper plan from BFF's new leadership. "We need proper direction, and we need to move forward wisely. We must not be content with small gains. This is just the beginning.

"It needs proper management and a long-term plan: one that spreads football beyond Dhaka, across the whole country. With the right plan, anything is possible."

Bablu sees this as a major challenge for the new leadership.

"This journey, started by the women's team, must continue. Maintaining this momentum is the federation's greatest challenge. If the men's team can perform well too -- if we can get a few good results -- then our efforts to revive football will finally succeed."

In the long gap between two triumphs, one thing echoes consistently: the cry for long-term planning, and the lingering question of whether we can truly capitalise on success and momentum.