Dhaka Third Division Football League
Dhaka Third Division Football League (Bengali: ঢাকা তৃতীয় বিভাগ ফুটবল লীগ) is the fifth-tier football league in Bangladesh, as well as the third and lowest league division in Dhaka. It was established in 1948 as the third-tier of the Dhaka League, while Bangladesh was still under Pakistani rule.[1] The league is the third highest division of semi-professional football in the country and the five top-finishing teams in the Super League round are automatically promoted to the Dhaka Second Division Football League. While the bottom team in the two groups during the first phase, are relegated to the country's amateur football league, the Bangladesh Pioneer Football League.[2]
First season | 1948 |
---|---|
Country | Bangladesh |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 18 |
Level on pyramid | 3 (1948–1992) 4 (1993–2011) 5 (2012–present) |
Promotion to | Dhaka Second Division League |
Relegation to | Bangladesh Pioneer League |
Current champions | Tangail Sports Academy (1 title) |
Website | bff.com.bd |
Current: 2021–22 Dhaka Third Division Football League |
History
In 1948, a year after the independence of Pakistan and India, the three-tiered football league system run by the Dhaka Sporting Association which was said to have began in 1915, was officially recognised, and the Dhaka Third Division Football League operated as the third and lowest tier in the system.[3]
Since 1972, the league has been run by Dhaka Metropolition Football League Committee under supervision of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).[4]
In 1993, the league became the 4th-tier of domestic football, with the Dhaka First Division Football League replacing the Dhaka Second Division Football League as the second-tier, both the Second and Third divisions of Dhaka shifted down a tier. In 2007, with the introduction of the country’s first professional national football league, Bangladesh Premier League (B.League), Dhaka football system changed again, as the Dhaka First Division Football League was merged to the Dhaka Premier Division League (Dhaka League), reintroduced as the second-tier known as the Dhaka Senior Division Football League. However, the Dhaka Third Division League remained as the country’s 4-tier. In 2012, with the introduction of a second-tier professional national football league, the Bangladesh Championship League, all three of Dhaka’s football leagues shifted down a tier and the Dhaka Third Division League is now the 5th-tier of Bangladeshi football.[5]
On 16 September 2021, BFF decided to postpone the 2021–2022 league season.[6][7] On 3 January 2023, BFF announced that the 2021–2022 league season would finally began from 7 January 2023, and participating clubs will only be allowed to field U17 players.[8]
Structure
Level |
League / Division |
---|---|
1 |
Bangladesh Premier League
|
2 |
Bangladesh Championship League
|
3 |
Dhaka Senior Division Football League
|
4 |
Dhaka Second Division Football League
|
5 |
Dhaka Third Division Football League
|
6 |
Bangladesh Pioneer Football League
|
Results
Third-tier league: 1948–1992
Season | Champion | Promoted Runners-up | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Not completed | ||
1973 | Brothers Union | None | |
1974 | Shantinagar Club | None | |
1975 | Agrani Bank Ltd. SC | None | |
1976 | Shahjahanpur SC | None | |
1977 | BDIR | None | |
1978 | Not Held | ||
1979 | Muslim Institute | None | |
1980 | Rayer Bazar AC | None | |
Top Scorers
Season | Player | Clubs | Goals | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18 | ![]() |
Arambagh Football Academy | 8 | [9] |
2019–20 | ![]() |
Alamgir Shomaj Kollyan KS | 19 | [11] |
2021–22 |
References
- "Saif Power Tec Third Division League from Jan 2019". Bangladesh Football Federation. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ৩ বছর পর শুরু তৃতীয় বিভাগ ফুটবল. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- Alam, Dhrubo (16 July 2018). "Kick, Score, Scream! The History of Football in Dhaka".
- "DMFLC promises regular leagues". The Daily Star. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- Pratidin, Bangladesh (14 February 2022). "ফুটবল লিগের ৫০ বছর". বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন.
- Reporter, Sports (17 September 2021). "3rd Div League to merge with upper one". The Daily Star.
- "No third division football league from next season". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh.
- Desk, Offside (3 January 2023). "ফেব্রুয়ারীতে মাঠে গড়াবে তৃতীয় বিভাগ ফুটবল".
- "Saif Sporting U-16 qualify for 2nd Division". Dhaka Tribune. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- "শেষ হলো তৃতীয় বিভাগ লিগ, পুরস্কার তুলে দিলেন ইমরুল হাসান।". www.dailysportsbd.com (in Bengali). 9 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- "মৌসুমের 'সেরা আবিষ্কার' | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho. 13 August 2022.