U-17 Women’s National Team press conference. Photo: BFF

DHAKA, Aug 14, 2025 (BSS)- The Bangladesh U-17 women's football team depart 
for Bhutan tomorrow (Friday) morning to take part in the seventh edition of 
four-nation SAFF U-17 Women's Championship with a mission to retain the 
title.

Apart from host Bhutan, defending champions Bangladesh, India and Nepal will 
participate in the regional tournament which is scheduled to take place in 
Thimphu from August 20 to 31. The four nations will play each other twice in 
the double round robin league format.

Prior to the team's departure, a press conference was held at Bangladesh 
Football Federation conference room where the head coach and captain of the 
team expressed their high hope to bring good results from the tournament.

Bangladesh U-17 women's football team head coach Mahbubur Rahman Litu said: 
"The team has been formed in a combination of senior and junior players and I 
hope they will not disappoint us."

Team's Assistant Coach Abul Hossain said, "Basically we want to take the 
country's women football ahead so that we can get a good national football 
team ... the way our women's football is progressing we the coaching staff 
are trying our level best to maintain this consistency ... The team has some 
talented players and I hope they will represent the national women's football 
team in the future." 

Team's captain Arpita Biswas Arpita said their target in the championship is 
to play good football and win match by match.

The captain said as they have good results in age level football so they want 
to maintain this consistency.

BFF member and women's wing committee's chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron, who was 
present in the press conference, said the girls have completed good training 
for the tournament, the team have formed in a mixture of experienced and 
inexperienced players and she hoped they would able to bring good result from 
the tournament.
 
Bangladesh will start their SAFF campaign taking on Bhutan on August 20 and 
face India on August 22.

Bangladesh will then play against Nepal on August 24 and 27, Bhutan on August 
29 and India on August 31.

All the matches will be held at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
 
Bangladesh U-17 squad: 

Yearzan Begum, Meghla Rani Roy, Tania Akter Fomi, Arpita Biswas Arpita, 
Fatema Akter, Umma Kulsum, Arifa Akter, Mst Almina, Mst Resme Akther, 
Thuinuye Marma, Sauravi Akanda Prity, Kranuching Marma, Reya, Alpi Akter, 
Protima Rani Joba Rani, Sorovi Rani, Mamoni Chakma, Ishita Tripura, Purnima 
Marma and Mst Amena Khatun.