Saif Powertec Ltd, the rights-holders of the proposed Bangladesh Super League (BSL), yesterday declared that they would stop all activities regarding the franchise-based football league until they are provided with international standards venues.

“We have already spent three to four crore taka and we will not take further steps until the international standard venues are ready,” said Saif Powertec managing director Ruhul Amin Tarafder, who is also the director of Chittagong Abahani.

“We need to do a lot of work at the venues before the start of the BSL but they are not yet ready. There are even stadiums without floodlights. Though the Bangladesh Football Federation had a meeting with the sports ministry, it seems to us that it will take a long time to prepare all eight venues. So, it will not be possible to start the inaugural BSL this year,” added Tarafder.

Saif Powertec earned the right of the BSL last year after reaching an agreement worth Tk 35 crore for 15 years.