The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Bangladesh Football Federation, organised a friendly football match between members of the Diplomatic Corps in Dhaka and a team comprising officials from the two ministries and former national footballers of Bangladesh at Dhaka Army Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Diplomatic Corps team featured representatives from Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Malaysia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and Vietnam, said a foreign ministry press release.

The event was organised under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry’s newly established Cultural and Sports Diplomacy Wing as part of efforts to promote sports diplomacy, foster friendship and strengthen people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and the international community.

The opening ceremony was attended by Shama Obayed Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Aminul Haque, State Minister for Youth and Sports.

Ambassadors, high commissioners, foreign diplomats, senior government officials, former national footballers and officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries were also present.

The match was played in a spirit of friendship and goodwill, reflecting the shared commitment of Bangladesh and its diplomatic partners to strengthening bilateral relations through cultural and sporting exchanges.

At the end of the event, the two state ministers presented mementos to members of the Diplomatic Corps team.