The rift between rebel female footballers and head coach Peter Butler came to an end when 13 among the 18 Bangladesh national women鈥檚 team players joined the training camp under the Englishman at the Abahani playground in Dhanmondi in the capital on Tuesday.
Among the 18 rebel players, Rupna Chakma, Swarna Rani Mandal, Sathi Biswas, Masura Parvin, Shamsunnahar (Sr), Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Sheuli Azim, Nasrin Akther, Maria Manda, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Akhter, Shamsunnahar (Jr), and Mosammat Sagorika joined the camp after the Eid-ul-Fitr break and Butler鈥檚 return from the UK.
While captain Sabina Khatun, Ritu Porna Chakma, Monika Chakma, and Matsushima Sumaiya were unable to attend the camp due to their participation in Bhutan鈥檚 Women鈥檚 National League with Paro FC, Tohura Khatun is likely to join the camp after her extended leave ends.
The development of rebel footballers joining the training ahead of Bangladesh鈥檚 campaign in the AFC Women鈥檚 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers from June 23 to July 5 came a day after the players had a meeting with Butler at the Bangladesh Football Federation on Monday.
鈥楶eter [Butler] said whatever happened is in the past and said that the girls will have to train the way he wants, and the girls agreed [to join],鈥� Bangladesh Football Federation women鈥檚 wing chief Mahfuza Akter Kiron told the media after the meeting on Monday.
The 18 senior players boycotted national team training in late January, demanding Butler鈥檚 resignation following a conflict that occurred during their SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship title-winning campaign in Nepal in October 2024.
The incident prompted the BFF to organise a committee to investigate, which failed to find a solution and was widely criticised by the football community.
In the meantime, Bangladesh played two FIFA friendly matches against UAE, with Butler fielding junior players, and lost both the matches by an identical 3-1 margin on February 26 and March 2.
The BFF president, Tabith Awal, had to sit in with both the parties several times, including the latest one on April 5.