Three-year wait ends as first division hockey returns 

 
After a three-year hiatus, Bangladesh's First Division Hockey League is finally set to return, with the competition scheduled to get underway on the 9th of October. 

The tournament had initially been planned for 7 October but was pushed back by two days to allow the organisers to put the finishing touches to their preparations.

The return of the second tier of domestic hockey is expected to provide a timely shot in the arm for the sport, particularly for players who have spent a prolonged period on the sidelines without regular competitive fixtures.

Eleven clubs will contest this season's league inculding Wari Club, Farashganj SC, Hockey Dhaka United, Shishu-Kishore Sangha, PWD SC, Dhaka Wanderers, Combined SC, Rayer Bazar SC, Mukta Bihanga Tarun Sangha, Dhaka Young Star and Bachelors SC.

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation had earlier agreed to provide Tk 250,000 to each participating club after the teams sought financial assistance to meet the cost of competing. The federation also decided against allowing foreign players this season, while each club can register up to 22 players, including a maximum of four from BKSP and four from the three armed forces. The league will be played on a single round-robin basis.

For the players, however, the league means more than simply a return to the turf. It offers an opportunity for emerging talents to make their mark and for established players to regain their competitive edge.

A regular First Division league is also an important cog in the domestic hockey machinery. Match practice is the bread and butter of player development, and a sustained competitive calendar can help bridge the gap between grassroots hockey and the Premier Division.