The logo unveiling and draw ceremony of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament have been held in Dhaka.
Flanked by the officials of the governing body Bangladesh Football Federation, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, and State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Hasan Russell attended the event at a Dhaka hotel on Saturday (Jan 4).
As per the draw of the six-nation tournament, host Bangladesh, champion Palestine and Sri Lanka will take on each other in Group A while Burundi, Seychelles and Mauritius will play in Group B.
The sixth edition of the tournament will begin on Jan 15 at Bangabandhu National Stadium with the participation of six national clubs of the six countries.
Earlier, the BFF named the tournament after Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to celebrate the ‘Mujib Year’.
The tournament was scheduled to start in November 2019, which was deferred till January 2020 as the government decided to kick off the ‘Mujib Year’ celebration through an international event.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced “Mujib Borsho” from March 17, 2020, to March 17, 2021, to be celebrated with a series of programmes including local and international sports meet.
Began in 1996-96 session, the last Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football Tournament was held in Dhaka in October 2018 with Palestine clinching the title.
Bangabandhu Gold Cup lineup
Group A: Bangladesh, Palestine and Sri Lanka
Group B: Burundi, Seychelles and Mauritius