Maradona Coming to Bangladesh: BFF

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona will come to Bangladesh in 2020 as part of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary celebration, confirmed Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin yesterday.

"Maradona is coming to Bangladesh in 2020 to pay his respect to Bangabandhu," BFF President Kazi Salahuddin told the media on Tuesday.

Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final.

Maradona is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Bangladesh as well as join in several football-related events. 

"It's confirmed that Diego Maradona is coming, but details and his flight plan is yet to be fixed," BFF General Secretary Abu Nayeem Shohagh said. 

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, was born on Mar 17 in 1920 at Tungipara village of Gopalganj. The Awami League under his leadership had lad the freedom movement which led to the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.

His 100th birth anniversary will be in 2020. 

Naming the years of 2020 and 2021 as Mujib Barsha or Mujib Year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had pledged to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary with people from all echelons if society through yearlong programmes.