Hosts Bangladesh were pitted alongside defending champions Palestine in Group A as the draw for the six-nation Bangabandhu Gold Cup was held at a hotel in the capital today.

Sri Lanka are the other team in Group A while Group B features Burundi, Mauritius and Seychelles in the sixth edition of the tournament, which will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka from January 15 to 25.

Palestine are the highest ranked (106) side in the tournament, followed by Burundi (151), Mauritius (172), Bangladesh (187), Seychelles (200) and Sri Lanka (205).

Bangladesh Football Federation's president Kazi Salahuddin, Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal,  State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, chief coordinator of the national implementation committee for celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam, tournament's rights holders K-sports' CEO Fahad Karim, and other stakeholders were present at the draw ceremony.