Arambagh Club: Independence Cup winners now gambling hosts

Formed way back in 1958, the Arambagh Krira Sangha has always been an integral part of the Bangladeshi sports scene. 

The Dhaka-based sporting club's crowning moment came during the 2017-18 Independence Cup tournament, when they defeated local powerhouse and defending champion Chittagong Abahani 2-0 in the final.

As champions, they received Tk5 lakh. The club management also announced to give the team an additional Tk1 lakh.

Arambagh defender Arif was named the man of the final and also the man of the tournament, while Arambagh striker Mohammad Jewel was declared the top scorer for netting three goals.

But the club's best days might already be behind it, as it too has turned out to have been hosting an illegal casino in its Motijheel building. Police seized casino boards, liquor, other gambling equipment and cash during drives conducted on September 22.

In the aftermath of this humiliating incident, where three other Motijheel-based sports clubs – Mohammedan Sporting Club, Dilkusha Sporting Club and Victoria Sporting Club – were also raided, Arambagh Krira Sangha has been under lockdown.

Reminiscing about the club's heyday, Quazi Sabir, an Arambagh local and a fan of the club, said: "Arambagh was known as the giant-killers. The stadium was right across the street. Local fans cheered no matter what the result. Our fans were very passionate."

Donations and sponsorships were the major sources of income for the club, he added. 

"There was a very healthy environment in the club. Arambagh had a local fan following as it was the only club in the area that represented them. Several local boys were part of the main team," said Quazi Sadiul Mohammed, former Young Men's Club footballer.

Speaking about his rivals, Sadiul said everyone associated with the club took pride in it.

Although the club was never a domestic powerhouse, they did become the first club from Bangladesh to reach the final of an international club tournament – the Afna Cup – hosted by Nepal in 1981.

They also finished as the runner-up, twice, in the Sikkim Gold Cup.

Starting out as just a football club, Arambagh Krira Sangha would later go on to add handball, volleyball and basketball to their roster as their power and prestige in the domestic sports circuit grew.

During the '80s, a period that many consider as the golden period of Bangladeshi football, Arambagh would regularly finish among the top five teams in the domestic league.

However, starting in the '90s, their success dwindled, and by the 2012-13 season, the club had reached their lowest point after being relegated from the Bangladesh Football Premier League.

In 2016, they made a return to top flight football, following the appointment of Mominul Haque Shaheed as club president in 2015.

Mominul decided to bring up footballers from the grassroots into the Arambagh Football Academy, which was paying off well. However, the club's return to the top may be short lived due to the casino scandal.