Bangladesh women's football captain Sabina Khatun's leadership extends beyond the field. Her persistence, along with the team's impressive performance, has ushered in a significant change for the sport in the country. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced a new contract that quintuples the wages of the national women's football team, making it the highest pay offered to female footballers by any South Asian governing body.
This substantial raise, effective from Thursday onwards, marks a historic moment for Bangladeshi women's football. Previously, the players received a modest stipend ranging from Tk 2,000 to Tk 10,000 per month, with the captain earning the highest at Tk 20,000. This tiered structure remained unchanged for several years, despite the team's growing success.
The seeds of this success were sown in 2015 when Bangladesh youth women's teams began excelling at international tournaments. They secured a spot in the final round of the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship for the first time in 2016, followed by an undefeated run at the 2017 SAFF U-15 Championship. This momentum continued, culminating in their historic victory at the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship – their first-ever title.
However, the financial disparity between the men's and women's teams remained a point of contention. While the men received no salary from the BFF but were handsomely compensated by their clubs, the women's team's wages stagnated. This, coupled with the team's recent achievements, fueled their demands for better compensation.
The BFF's response is a significant step towards financial parity in Bangladeshi football. Under the new contract, 15 players will receive Tk 50,000 per month, a substantial increase from their previous earnings. Ten players will earn Tk
30,000, and the remaining players will see their salaries rise to Tk 15,000-20,000. This revised structure reflects the value placed on the women's team's contributions and paves the way for a brighter future for the sport in Bangladesh. The BFF's annual expenditure on women footballers' salaries has increased from Tk 29 lakhs to Tk 1.39 crore, a testament to their commitment to supporting the growth of the women's game.
Pool A (Tk 50,000): Sabina Khatun, Rupna Chakma, Masura Parvin, Shamsunnahar, Sheuli Azim, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Anai Mogini, Maria Manda, Monika Chakma, Shamsunnahar Jr, Ritu Porna Chakma, Sanjida Akter, Marzia, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Tohura Khatun
Pool B (Tk30,000): Sohagi Kisku, Shopna Rani, Afeida Khandakar, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Shorna Rani Mandal, Mosammat Aklima Khatun, Mosammat Surma Jannat, Sathi Biswas, Matsushima Sumaya, Unnoti Khatun
Pool C (Tk20,000/15,000): Mosammat Halima Akter, Kohati Kisku, Nasrin Akter, Mosammat Ety Khatun (all 20k), Rupa, Airin Khatun (both 15, 000)
