Bangladesh football team reaches home safely from Kathmandu

The players were trapped in Kathmandu amid anti-government protests and violence in Nepal, raising serious concerns for their safety

After days of uncertainty and tension, the Bangladesh national men’s football team has safely returned home from Kathmandu amid deadly anti-government protests.

The Bangladesh Air Force’s special flight, carrying Javier Cabrera’s squad, landed at the Kurmitola Air Base, Bir Uttam AK Khandakar, at 4:40pm on Thursday.

The team had travelled to Nepal on Sept 3 for two friendly matches. Their first match on Sept 6 ended in a goalless draw, while the second match, scheduled for Sept 9, was cancelled after violent protests erupted over the Gen-Z movement demanding the lifting of social media restrictions and protesting corruption.

Amid the unrest, clashes between protesters and police on Tuesday left 22 dead, prompting the resignation of Nepal’s prime minister and several ministers.

Parliament buildings and ministerial residences were set ablaze, a curfew was imposed, and the airport temporarily closed, leaving the Bangladesh team stranded at their hotel in Kathmandu.

The Bangladesh government, in coordination with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu, arranged for the team’s safe return.

Journalists covering the Bangladesh-Nepal matches, who were also trapped in Kathmandu, also returned on the Air Force jet.

Initial attempts to evacuate the team on Tuesday failed, as the special flight could not land at Tribhuvan International Airport due to the tense situation. After three days of uncertainty, the mission was successful, ending a distressing period for the players, coaching staff, and their families.