I was a victim of conspiracy
Chairperson of the Women’s Wing of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee member Mahfuza Akter Kiron has claimed that she became the victim of a conspiracy during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and was imprisoned for two days over remarks regarding women’s football.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Kiron recalled the incident that followed Bangladesh Under-14 Girls’ Football Team’s triumph in the AFC Under-14 Girls’ South Asian Regional Championship in 2015.
“A large number of journalists were present in my office at the BFF House after the team became champions,” Kiron said. “I said that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina loved women’s cricket more than women’s football. A journalist from a private satellite television channel recorded my comments and later disclosed that to the then Prime Minister.”
According to Kiron, the remarks angered Sheikh Hasina, after which a defamation case was filed against her, leading to her arrest.
“I was a victim of conspiracy,” she said. “I was sent to jail for two days.”
Kiron claimed that FIFA later intervened in the matter and exerted pressure on the authorities in Bangladesh, following which she was released.
Mahfuza Akter Kiron joined the Bangladesh Football Federation in 2008 as Deputy Chairperson of the Women’s Wing when Sirajul Islam Bachchu was serving as chairman. Following Bachchu’s death in 2015, former BFF president Kazi Salahuddin requested her to take charge of the Women’s Wing as chairperson.
Kiron also highlighted her personal contribution to the development of women’s football in Bangladesh.
“I am a female entrepreneur and I have an organisation named Modulas,” she said. “In 2011, I spent money from my own fund for the coaching of young female footballers.”
She added that an NGO later supported the programme by covering expenses related to meals, transport and training for the girls.
Kiron said she organised talent hunt programmes across seven districts between 2014 and 2017 and personally bore the expenditure of those initiatives.
“Players like Sanjida Akter, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda and Sheuli Azim emerged from those talent hunt programmes,” she said.
According to Kiron, Dhaka Bank began sponsoring women’s football in 2018, which provided a significant boost to the programme.
Despite suffering from cancer, Kiron said she continued working for women’s football development.
“I underwent chemotherapy and received booster injections, but I did not stop working,” she said. “I contacted the Japan Football Association (JFA), and they agreed to support the women’s football project.”
She informed that the JFA initially provided US$40,000 annually for the development of women’s football in Bangladesh and currently contributes US$20,000 per fiscal year.
Responding to questions regarding former Bangladesh women’s football team head coach Golam Rabbani Choton, Kiron denied allegations that the federation had dismissed him.
“We did not sack him. He resigned for personal reasons,” she said.
Bangladesh Women’s Football Team won the SAFF Women’s Championship title in 2022 under Choton’s supervision, although Kiron credited Technical Director Paul Smalley for playing a key role in the achievement.
Following Choton’s resignation, the BFF appointed Peter Butler as head coach. Under his guidance, Bangladesh successfully defended the SAFF Women’s Championship title and also qualified for the final round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup – regarded as the country’s highest achievement in women’s football.
Kiron expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s chances in the upcoming SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, scheduled to begin in Goa, India, on 25 May.
A total of eight teams, divided into two groups, will participate in the tournament. Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are in Group A, while Bangladesh, India and the Maldives are placed in Group B.
