Hamza Chowdhury Proud to Represent His Bangladeshi Roots

Sports Desk

Hamza Dewan Chowdhury has received FIFA’s approval to play for Bangladesh’s national football team, ending a long wait. The midfielder, who has been playing for Premier League club Leicester City for several years, was born in the UK to Bangladeshi parents. He has also represented England at youth levels. In a recent interview with UK-based media outlet *Verses*, Hamza shared his journey of connecting with Bangladesh’s football scene.

When did you realize you wanted to represent Bangladesh? Was there a specific moment that inspired you?

Hamza: Honestly, there wasn’t a specific moment. Of course, I have a close relationship with Bangladesh and visited there several times as a child. But at that time, I wasn’t thinking much about international football. For many, especially those who grow up playing football, the dream is to represent their homeland, and for me, that was England. So, from my youth team days, my goal was to play for England. Representing England at age-group levels was an honor. Over the years, rumors started circulating about the possibility of playing for Bangladesh, and that’s when I began to seriously consider it.

How big is the football scene in Bangladesh?

Hamza: Many people think cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh, but I believe that’s a misconception. It’s probably because they’ve had more success in cricket. However, the sport that Bangladeshi people love the most is definitely football. The national team hasn’t had much success yet, but if you visit Bangladesh during a World Cup, you’ll see half the country supporting Argentina and the other half supporting Brazil. The excitement and rivalry around that time create an atmosphere that is unlike anything else. To me, that’s truly amazing. As I said, the passion for football there is huge.

What were your thoughts when you first received your Bangladeshi passport?

Hamza: My parents and I went to the embassy in London to get the passport. They were absolutely thrilled because in the past, they had faced a lot of difficulties with visas.

What does representing Bangladesh mean to you?

Hamza: My family tried to explain the responsibility and significance of this decision to me multiple times. It wasn’t something I thought about much before, but it had always been in my mind. After discussing it with my family in both England and Bangladesh, I made the decision to represent Bangladesh. I’m truly proud of it, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.

Do you have any childhood memories of Bangladesh? 

Hamza: Until I was 16, I would visit Bangladesh with my family every year, sometimes twice a year. Unfortunately, I haven’t been back in over 10 years because of my busy life as a footballer. Now I have three young children, and they keep me busy outside of football. But I have many fond memories. Whenever we went to Bangladesh, I would bring clothes with me. We had a lot of hassle at the airport because of the luggage, but the warmth and effort people put into receiving those things were significant. We were fortunate to grow up in the UK.

Why do you think other players want to represent their roots?

Hamza: There’s a unique pride in representing your home country. I don’t think anything compares to that. Many African-descended players in English football were born and raised in the UK, but they still choose to represent their home countries. Their roots are incredibly strong, and that connection drives them.

Do you hope to see more Bangladeshi players at the top level?

Hamza: Absolutely! I would love to see millions more.