Italian-based footballer Fahmidul Islam has once again been called up to the preliminary camp of the Bangladesh national football team. On Friday, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) sent an official letter to his club, Olbia Calcio, a fourth-division side in Italy. The club responded within an hour, confirming Fahmidul’s release for national duty through a post on their social media channels.
Fahmidul had previously been included in the preliminary squad for the March FIFA window, when Bangladesh faced India in a friendly. He trained with the team in Saudi Arabia for about a week but returned to Italy while the rest of the squad flew to Dhaka. His exclusion from the final squad stirred controversy, with fans heavily criticising the decision. Many supporters even launched campaigns demanding his return. The issue gained enough traction that Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan summoned BFF President Tabith Awal for clarification.
In the third week of April, the BFF’s national team committee held a meeting where several members urged head coach Javier Cabrera to reassess Fahmidul by observing him again in Dhaka. Despite providing numerous justifications for excluding him, the coach has now reversed his stance and included Fahmidul in the squad for the upcoming camp.
Bangladesh will face Singapore on June 10 in the Asian Cup qualifiers, with a friendly scheduled for June 4. The national camp begins on May 31, and the BFF has requested Fahmidul’s presence from day one. Coach Cabrera’s decision to drop him last time led to significant backlash, making his next moves closely watched by fans and federation officials alike.
In addition to Fahmidul, the BFF is also in communication with the clubs of Hamza Choudhury and Samit Som, aiming to bring them into the national setup within the first few days of the camp. With Cabrera’s squad selections often under scrutiny, all eyes are now on the announcement of the preliminary squad for the crucial Singapore match.
