Hockey was introduced in Bengal during the British period. The game was introduced in Dhaka around 1905 under the patronage of Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah. But the game remained confined to the Nawabs’ family circle. At that time, football was more popular among the masses of this region. Despite this, the game made great progress due to untiring efforts of some sports patrons and organizers. During the World War II, a team of the hockey wizard Dhyan Chand, a member of the Gurkha Regiment, played an exhibition match at Armanitola in Dhaka. With the Partition of Bengal in 1947, the growth of hockey was impeded. Many of the people, who played and loved hockey, migrated to India. As a result, hockey turned into a seasonal game. Hockey was played only for two or three months in the year also due to the inadequacy of playgrounds and unfavorable weather conditions in other months of the year. During the Pakistan period, the East Pakistan hockey team took part in a number of tournaments including All Pakistan National Hockey Championship. In 1969, Dhaka successfully hosted the final round of the Pakistan National Hockey Championship.
20th century
The 'Bangladesh Hockey Federation ' was founded in 1972. The federation acquired full membership of the International Hockey Federation and of the Asian Hockey Federation in 1975. In 1987, a hockey stadium was built in Dhaka, which is now known as the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium. Since then it has been the home of hockey and the office of BHF in Bangladesh where all levels of hockey are being played and controlled. The Federation regularly arranges hockey leagues, tournaments, and the National Youth and Senior Championships. At the home level, hockey matches including Premier Division Hockey League, First Division Hockey League, Second Division Hockey League, National Hockey League, National Youth Hockey League, Independence Day Hockey Tournament, National Hockey Championship, National Youth Hockey Championship, Victory Day Hockey Tournament, School Tournaments and hosted various international tournaments with distinction. Bangladesh started taking part in international hockey tournaments by participating in the 1st Junior World Cup for Asia/Oceania zone qualifying round in Kuala Lumpur in 1977. It took part in the 1st Asia Cup in Karachi in 1982 and till date. The country also played in the Asian games held in Bangkok in 1978. Since then Bangladesh Hockey Team is participating in Asian games. In 1985, Dhaka hosted the Second Asia Hockey Cup, capt chaklader was the team captain. Bangladesh performed superbly. Hockey world observed the highest gatherings in any tournaments. India, Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Iran, and Bangladesh took part in this tournament. Bangladesh also hosted an international invitational hockey tournament in 1997. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the participants.
