Bylaws published for inter-college sports competition; district-level games begin November 22

The detailed bylaws for the Inter-College Sports Competition 2026-2027, held under the Dhaka Education Board, have been published.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, published the bylaws setting out the rules for participation in events including football, cricket, volleyball, handball, badminton and athletics.

The bylaws give directions on eligibility to take part, player registration, the rules of play, discipline, raising objections and allowances.

The bylaws, signed by Board Chairman Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, were published on Sunday (8 November). All board-approved and recognised colleges must take part by following the prescribed rules. The board also published the notice for the 2026-27 inter-college sports competition on the same day.

Under the bylaws, football matches in the men’s division will be played in two halves of 30 minutes each, and in the women’s division in two halves of 20 minutes each. If a match is undecided in the allotted time, the result will be settled by a tie-breaker. Each team may make a maximum of five substitutions.

The cricket competition, meanwhile, will be 20 overs a side. Players must wear coloured clothing and use a white ball. In the women’s division, however, a tape tennis ball must be used.

Volleyball, handball and badminton will also be played on a knockout basis, following the prescribed sets and timings.

In athletics, a competitor may take part in a maximum of three individual events, and will also have the chance to take part in relays. Individual and team champions will be decided on the basis of points earned across the events.

To take part, a student must be a regular student of the college concerned. Only students who passed the SSC or equivalent examination in 2025 or 2026 will be considered eligible.

Players must be present at the ground within the prescribed time before the match begins. At that time they must submit their original admit card, registration card, a photograph and a colour copy of the ESIF attested by the college principal.

The bylaws state that if a team includes an ineligible player in breach of the rules, or resorts to irregularities in the competition, the college concerned may be expelled from the event. Strict punitive measures have also been warned of for breaches of the rules.

If there is any objection during the competition about a match or a decision, a written protest must be lodged under the prescribed rules. For this, an application must be submitted to the president of the sports committee concerned within 60 minutes of the end of the match, along with a fee of two thousand taka and suitable evidence.

Separate directions have also been given on allowances and travel expenses by stage. Competitors and officials taking part at the divisional stage will receive food and travel allowances at the board-prescribed rates. But no allowance of any kind will be given to competitors at the district and zone stages.

The inter-college sports competition will begin at the district level on 22 November and continue until 30 November.