Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Governing Council confirmed that no matches will be held in Chattogram this season, with the remainder of the tournament set to be played in Sylhet and Dhaka, following disruptions caused by national mourning and a congested fixture schedule.
The decision follows days of uncertainty after several franchises, including Noakhali Express, travelled from Sylhet to Chattogram only to find the venue’s status in doubt. Serious logistical and scheduling complications prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board to reconsider the original plan, which had slated Chattogram to host matches from January 5 to 12.
BCB director and BPL Governing Council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu confirmed the move while speaking to reporters. “We have to bring the tournament down to two venues,” Mithu said. “We are sorry to the Chattogram supporters and management.”
The disruption began after BPL matches on December 30 were suspended following the death of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. With Wednesday declared a public holiday, the postponed fixtures were rescheduled for January 4, throwing the entire timetable into disarray. That change made it effectively impossible to begin matches in Chattogram the following day.
One of the clearest examples of the problem came in the revised schedule, which had Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders playing a night match in Sylhet on January 4 before being expected to feature in Chattogram the very next afternoon. Given the distance between the two cities and the need to relocate broadcasting and operational equipment, the plan was widely viewed as unrealistic.
“We are trying to adjust these two days,” Mithu said earlier. “We will sit in another meeting today. One option is not to hold matches in Chattogram, and the other is to push back the final.” He added that moving broadcast infrastructure from Sylhet to Chattogram in such a short window was a key concern.
Ultimately, delaying the final was ruled out. The Bangladesh national team is scheduled to travel to India immediately after the BPL for the World Cup, leaving little flexibility at the back end of the tournament.
Under the revised plan, matches will continue in Sylhet until January 12. On January 13, all six teams will return to Dhaka, where the remainder of the league and knockout stages will be played. The final is still scheduled to take place in the capital on January 23, as per the original calendar.
While the BCB has cited logistical constraints as the primary reason for dropping Chattogram, discussions within franchises have also pointed to financial considerations. Removing one venue significantly reduces operational expenses. At least one team questioned whether matches could instead have been staged on Chattogram’s designated rest days, on January 7 or 10, but that option was not pursued.
The decision means Chattogram Royals will not play a home match this season, a blow to local supporters. For the BPL, it is another reminder of how tightly packed schedules and external events can leave even a major domestic league with little room to manoeuvre.
