Though it is nothing new for a couple of brothers to get a chance on the national team at a time, a couple of brothers being called up in the national camp is the first time in the history of Bangladesh football.
Bangladesh national football team’s head coach Javier Cabrera called up three new faces in his 28-member preliminary squad for the World Cup 2026 and the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers matches against Palestine, where Taj Uddin, brother of Saad Uddin, defender of the national team, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, and Rabbi Hossain Rahul are also brothers.
Saad Uddin’s younger brother Taj Uddin, defender of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Rabbi Hossain is a forward for Brothers Union, and his brother Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee is a midfielder for Police Football Club.
Meanwhile, Sharifuzzaman and his brother Nowsheruzzaman played for the Bangladesh national team in 1973, when they also played for clubs and national teams with reputation.
In late ’70, another two brothers, Monwar Hossain Nannu and Monzu, played for the national team and club football.
Nannu was a midfielder who played for Abahani, and his younger brother Monju played for Mohammedan Sporting Club as a reliable defender. Both of them were the captains of the two clubs, and they played on the national team at the same time.
Nannu got a chance to play for the national team in 1973, and Monju secured a place on the national team after one year in 1974.
In the late '80s, two brothers, Arif Khan Joy and Amit Khan Shuvro, played in top-level domestic football, but they could not play for the national side at a time. Though both of them played on the national team,. Joy was also the State Minister for Youth and Sports later on. On the other hand, former national team captain Zahid Hasan Ameli and his brother Shakil played for the national team at one time. Amely played 64 matches for the national team and scored 15 goals.
Zahid Hasan was the best striker in domestic football during his time. He scored 25 goals in 37 outings for Abahani Krira Chakra from 2007 to 2009.
Ameli and Shakil played for the national team in 2015. After Ameli and Shakil, the new era begins after nine years with a couple of brothers, Saad Uddin and Taj Uddin, Rabbi Hossain, and Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, having their calls in the national team.