Footballer Hamza Chowdhury arrives in Bangladesh amid fanfare
Hamza will attend the Bangladesh team's official press conference at the team hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday
Highlights
- Hamza is in the 30-member Bangladesh preliminary squad for AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers
- He will join national football team camp in Dhaka on Tuesday or Wednesday
- He is expected to attend team's official press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday
- Biman flight carrying the footballer landed at Sylhet airport this morning
- Hamza is likely to visit ancestral home in Habiganj's Bahubal Upazil today
- National team will fly to Kolkata on Thursday morning
Bangladeshi-origin English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Chowdhury arrived in Bangladesh today (17 March) to join the national team for the AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Hamza and his family landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport shortly before noon.
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His arrival drew a large crowd of enthusiastic fans who gathered with banners, festoons, and musical instruments, chanting his name in celebration.
The atmosphere outside the airport was lively, and security personnel struggled to manage the overwhelming crowd.
Hamza exited through the VIP gate around 1pm, briefly greeting journalists before returning inside due to the heavy gathering.
Juned Ahmed, a fan from South Surma, said, "Hamza is an English League-winning footballer. It is a pleasure for us that he will now play for Bangladesh. Moreover, his home is in Sylhet, which makes us even prouder."
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) welcomed Hamza at the airport, with seven executive members present, including Sakhawat Hossain Bhuiya Shaheen, Kamrul Islam Hilton, Golam Gaus, Iqbal Hossain, Satyajit Das Rupu, Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj, and Manjurul Karim.
They greeted him with flowers after he completed immigration. Hamza's father, Dewan Murshed Chowdhury, and leaders from Sylhet's sports community were also in attendance.
Speaking about his son's decision, Hamza's father said, "He is coming because of his extraordinary attachment to his motherland. I have brought him here so that he does not forget his roots. He has come of his own free will."
He added, "Today is a day of emotion and joy for me. I have been waiting for this moment. There is nothing more proud for a father than his son playing international football for Bangladesh."
After arriving in Sylhet, Hamza travelled to his ancestral home in Snanghat village of Bahubal upazila in Habiganj, where a celebratory atmosphere prevailed in anticipation of his visit.
His uncle, Dewan Golam Masud, noted, "Hamza is playing in the red and green jersey because of his sincere love for the country. Our villagers are eager to welcome him."
Hamza, who was granted Bangladeshi citizenship by the government, will spend a day at his village home before heading to Dhaka on Tuesday to join the national team camp.
He is scheduled to attend an official press conference at the team hotel on Wednesday (19 March), where he will speak alongside the team's coach and captain.
The Bangladesh national football team will leave for Kolkata on Thursday (20 March) en route to Shillong for their AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against India on 25 March. Hamza, a Sheffield United midfielder, is set to make his debut for Bangladesh in that match.
