Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is set to revive district football leagues, which have been neglected for over a decade.

Since the formation of District Football Associations (DFAs) in 2008 under FIFA guidelines, the league has been held only four times -- 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2020 -- under former BFF president Kazi Salahuddin. This decline has weakened the supply line of footballers to Dhaka leagues from districts.

Financial constraints and limited stadium access have been major obstacles, as District Sports Associations control both facilities and government funding, excluding football.

Keeping both issues in mind, Iqbal Hossain-led new BFF district football league committee has assured the DFAs of partial financial support as well as assistance in resolving ground-related problems through the National Sports Council.

"Some 10 to 12 districts have agreed to start their respective leagues, and they are supposed to inform us about their league schedules by February 15, as we want each DFA to hold their district league regularly to revive football across the country," Iqbal told The Daily Star yesterday, adding that they would recommend the BFF executive committee make the district league mandatory for all DFAs.

"Those DFAs which will not be able to run the league at their district level don't need to be associated with the football federation. The DFAs must hold the league, either on a big scale or a small scale, because we will provide financial support to them if needed," said the former national midfielder, adding that they have been searching for area-based sponsors to support the district leagues.

So far, 11 districts have agreed to run their respective district leagues: Narail, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Madaripur, Faridpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Dinajpur, and Sunamganj.

Sunamganj DFA president Juned Ahmed Rajran told The Daily Star yesterday, "I held the district league once in 2022 and organised the DFA Championship tournament twice without financial help from the BFF. Now, we can't hold the league due to the unavailability of the ground, despite the allotment of the district stadium being sought from the district administration last December.

"If the football leagues in all 64 districts are held regularly and some four to five good players from each district emerge, then the crisis of quality footballers can come to an end."