BFF finally secures land for its Technical Center in Cox's Bazar

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is planning to appoint a consultant firm to design the FIFA-funded BFF Technical Center (Center for Excellence) after the government on Monday allocated 15.2 acres of land in the Rashidnagar area of Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazar.

Under the FIFA Forward fund worth USD 3.6 million (approximately BDT 44 crore and 24 lakh), the BFF Technical Center is expected to include three football pitches, two four-storey dormitories, medical facilities, a gymnasium, a swimming pool and other amenities, subject to final approval from world football’s governing body, FIFA.

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BFF president Tabith Awal received the land documents from Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner M A Mannan at an official ceremony at a city hotel. Senior BFF officials and local government representatives were also present.

Expressing his gratitude for the government’s initiative, Tabith said, “Through the joint initiatives of the government and FIFA, we are going to build an international-standard technical centre in Cox’s Bazar. 

"Apart from providing high-standard training for budding footballers, we will also establish an international-standard physiotherapy centre.”

The BFF boss added, “We also want to implement the government’s sports tourism initiative in Cox’s Bazar by holding international tournaments here, and I think corporate houses can also use the technical centre to hold their football tournaments. 

“We are going to fence the arena and fill the land next month, and appoint a consultant firm to design the technical centre.”

While other FIFA member associations have used most of their FIFA Forward funds to establish infrastructure, the BFF had failed to capitalise on the programme, mainly because of the unavailability of land.

In early June 2022, the Awami League government allocated 20 acres in Khuniapalong for a residential training academy under the FIFA Forward programme. However, FIFA sought an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report from the BFF after environmentalists raised concerns about the allocation of reserved forestland, citing its detrimental impact on the region’s rapidly declining forests, which are home to critically endangered Asian elephants, along with other flora and fauna.

In September 2024, the government cancelled the allocation of 20 acres of land in Khuniapalong under Ramu upazila and proposed 19.1 acres in Dholirchara mouza, under Rashidnagar union of the same upazila, before the BFF was eventually allocated another piece of land in the same union.

Further delays followed when the interim government sought 8 crore taka for the land. The BFF then appealed for the land to be allocated free of charge before eventually paying a token amount of one lakh and one taka only.