January 31, 2025
DHAKA – It began simply, like many other communities, with few people coming along and bonding over a shared love for board games. While looking for an escape from the grind of everyday life, a handful of acquaintances started meeting up and spending time playing board games.
But it wasn’t just about passing the time; rather it was about finding a way to connect with like-minded people in a meaningful way. From homes to cafés, the games brought them together, and before long, what started as casual meetups grew into a thriving community – Bangladesh Board Game Community.
Reflecting on the early days, Arifin Rahman, one of the founding members of this community shared, “At first, with some of my fellow board game enthusiasts from my periphery, we created a Facebook group. We started hanging out together, playing board games, and used to post on the group about it so that others could join us if they wanted.” In such a way, the community started growing bit by bit and Panaderia, a cafe in Gulshan, became their weekly meeting ground.
Giving this casual meetup a new dimension and taking it a step further, they started arranging tournaments. However, during the pandemic, they have arranged a few online tournaments on board games, but the first offline tournament was based on Catan, a multi-player board game designed by Klaus Teuber.
The game redefined modern board gaming by offering a mixture of strategies, trade, collaboration, and of course, possibilities. To win, you have to play better and be luckier than the opponent. While for some, this unpredictability might induce excitement, for others, it could be a source of frustration, especially when the odds defy expectation while rolling dice.
Though the community boasts an impressive collection of imported board games, ranging in different tastes and preferences, one game seems to unite most of them, Catan. Hence it felt fitting to arrange a tournament for this game. The event, Catan Cup 2024 drew many, even some travelling from outside Dhaka, among which, around 50 people participated in this tournament.
The footprint of Bangladesh Board Game Community goes beyond just the games, competitions, or tournaments. Rahman, reflecting on his personal life, mentioned, “I’ve made some of my closest friends here, even my best friend is also from this community. And it’s not just me. Families have gotten to know each other. It feels like we’re building something much bigger than just a gaming community that supports one another through thick and thin.”
Over two weekends, the participants battled out one another in a series of knockouts. By the end of the first round, only 16 participants advanced to the semi-finals, which were held on the last day of the tournament. The semi-finals were no less intense. Four games were played simultaneously – four tables, four players each – under the supervision of a moderator for each game.
From these four fiercely contested games, one winner from each table claimed a seat at the final round, a stage where everything hinged on their wits and a touch of luck. The final four faced off on the same day and after an intensive play, Pearuddin, a player from Chattogram, became the champion of this tournament.
“I first got into this game back in 2020, thanks to a friend who introduced me to the game and this community during the pandemic. Those lockdown days were all about playing Catan,” the winner Pearuddin shared regarding his experience. “Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I could make it to the event because of a family program, but somehow, I managed to come all the way from Chattogram to Dhaka. Looking back, I’m so glad I did and it’s been an incredible experience.”
As a token of appreciation, all finalists were given a copy of Rosh Kosh, a game designed by one of the community’s own members. In recent years, this community has become more than just a group of gamers. Some members have turned their passion into entrepreneurial ventures, importing and selling games, or even publishing and creating their own.
Another organiser of the event, Mafiul Robin, shared, “People here are now publishing their own games”. Playground Inc., an initiative born from this group, has already released several titles, including Polashi. Inspired by the historic Battle of Plassey, the game has gained significant popularity.
“We don’t have many board games rooted in our own cultural narratives. So, they’re blending interesting elements from existing games with our history and traditions, creating something we can truly connect with,” explained Robin.
Hence, for many, this community has been a lifeline, a place to find like-minded individuals in a city that doesn’t always make space for connections. So, if you have a knack for board gaming, or looking for a new hobby, or simply want to be a part of this wholesome community, you can slide into the cafe called Panaderia in Gulshan on a random Saturday evening.