Dhaka Abahani were forced to settle for a goalless draw in their opening fixture of the Bangladesh Football League – formerly known as the Bangladesh Premier League – against Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society at the Shaheed Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Friday.

Marful Haque’s men, bolstered by the arrival of last season’s best footballer Souleymane Diabate from Mohammedan SC and local top scorer Al-Amin, failed to make their dominance count as they kicked off their campaign with dropped points.

Rahmatganj were reduced to 10 men as early as the 39th minute, when Mohammad Arafat Hossain was sent off, but the six-time league champions could not capitalize despite playing more than half the match with a numerical advantage.

Meanwhile, the other fixture of the day between Arambagh Sports Club and Fakirerpool Youngmen’s Club at the Sohid Miraj Topon Stadium in Manikganj also ended in a draw. Arambagh took the lead through John Denapo’s 58th-minute, but Egyptian midfielder Mostafa Kahraba rescued a point for Fakirerpool with an injury-time equalizer to make it 1-1.