Former national captain Jewel Rana speaks to footballers about the Dhaka clubs' 'gentlemen's agreement' yesterday at the Dhaka University ground.Photo: STAR

After the 'elite' footballers' anger was initially defused by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) officials on Sunday, it was the turn of the 'commoners' to express their anguish and concern.
About 25 footballers -- ex-nationals, recent discards and some young and promising -- gathered at the Dhaka University ground yesterday to protest the decision of the Dhaka clubs to go for the so-called 'gentlemen's agreement'.
Although the clubs have denied any such pact among them, the players feel that there is something negative in the move by the clubs that will bring a financial disaster for them in the coming season.
"There are many players here who were victims of the pool-system and 'gentlemen's agreement' in the past. It is so damaging that a national booter like Julfikar Mahmud Mintu even did not get a team last season," told former national captain Jewel Rana.
Mintu played in the senior division after being ignored by the professional league clubs and the footballers are afraid that a gentlemen's agreement will reduce their remuneration.
"I had to retire from the national team so I could play freely," said Jewel showing his frustration. "It will not encourage youngsters to play football anymore. At least I will not support someone to take it as a career in the future."
The clubs reportedly met on Saturday to agree that they will not target selected players by the others for the B. League transfer that began on May 15.
The heavyweights are to name seven players each and the other five each so that these players cannot bargain.
Amit Khan Shuvra, the recently discarded national defender said that players' remuneration will go down for the pact.
"I fear that national players won't get more than Tk four lakh and the outsiders would be offered something around Tk one lakh. This is nothing. A player earned more money by playing outside Dhaka last year as there was no league in the capital," said Shuvra.
"We did not receive 30 percent of our fee last year and my club's condition is worse this year," informed the Brothers Union centre-back.
This year, Muktijoddha are uncertain whether they would go for a big-budget team or not. It means bad news for us," he added.
Alfaz Ahmed also said with most players not getting the promised amount in the inaugural B. League, the financial constraints of the footballers will remain.
"We want some financial security from the federation. If there is really any agreement, we will suffer," the ex-national skipper said.
The footballers will appeal to the newly elected BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, who is now abroad, to solve this crisis once he returns.
The players in the national camp had boycotted training on Sunday but returned to practice after the BFF high-ups assured them to take steps to stop any negative and damaging move by the clubs.