Bangladesh U-20 football heroes to parade SAFF Championship Trophy thru Dhaka streets

The triumphant Bangladesh Under-20 national football squad is scheduled to touch down in Dhaka on Saturday evening and will be honored with an open-top bus parade celebrating their historic SAFF Championship victory.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the celebratory plans on Saturday, confirming the team will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at approximately 6:35pm before beginning their victory procession through the capital.

According to the BFF press release, the parade route will start from the international airport and wind through the city before concluding at Hatirjheel Amphitheatre, where a formal reception is planned for around 7:30pm.

State Minister of Youth and Sports Aminul Haque will be present at the airport to welcome the championship-winning squad upon their arrival from the Maldives.

The federation has extended an invitation to football supporters and the general public to join the festivities, describing the tournament victory as a landmark moment in Bangladesh football history.

Bangladesh claimed the SAFF U-20 title on Friday after defeating regional rivals India 4-3 in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout following the championship final in the Maldives.

Open-top bus parades have become an established tradition for celebrating major football achievements in Bangladesh. The practice was first introduced in 2022 when the women's national team won the SAFF Women's Championship, setting a precedent that has since been embraced for subsequent tournament successes.

The victory marks another milestone for Bangladesh football development programs and youth football in particular, as the young players delivered the nation's latest international trophy.