The 72-hour-long countrywide blockade program called by the BNP, Jamaat, and some of their like-minded parties began amid panic in the minds of mass people due to possible violence and anarchy on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will continue the 13th Independence Cup football tournament as per schedule despite the countrywide blockade. BFF confirmed the news on the day.
As per the fixtures, two matches would take place on the day. One was at Bashundhara Kings Arena Stadium and the other at BirSrestha Flight LT Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. But it was impossible to go outside of the city due to the blockade; for this reason, two outings were held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena Stadium.
There is no match on Wednesday as per the schedule. Three encounters will be held on Thursday at three venues. But it’s not possible to arrange the other two outings outside of the city. So, the BFF arranges the matches at Bashundhara Kings Arena Stadium on the day.
Meanwhile, former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited advanced to the quarterfinal of the season's curtain-raising meet, the Independence Cup Football 2023, from Group B, beating old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim Society by 2-0 goals at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena on Monday evening.
With the day's feat, the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani confirmed the quarterfinal berth with one match to spare, securing a full six points from two straight matches.
Abahani will now play Sheikh Russel KC in the last Group B match on Thursday to decide the Group B champions.
Runners-up Sheikh Russel KC followed Abahani in the group table with an unbeaten score, securing four points from two Group B matches.
In the day's match, Rahmatganj MFS, which forced meet's runners-up Sheikh Russel KC to play a goalless draw in the first match, also fought hard with Abahani to restrict them goalless till 75 minutes, but two goals in the last 15 minutes caused their defeat.
Striker Conelius Stewart put Abahani ahead from a penalty in the 76th minute (1-0), while Brazilian midfielder Jonathan doubled the margin in the 83rd minute by placing the ball over the opponent custodian (2-0).
The Independence Cup will close on December 3 because of the AFC Cup and the preparation of the national team for FIFA qualifying matches. The group stage of the Independence will be completed on November 4.
