The professional league allowed clubs outside Dhaka to participate and had no relegation until the 2009–10 season.
Senior Division champions and runners-up earned promotion only if they met professional league licensing criteria.
In 2009, the Bashundhara Club Cup Championship, a one-time tournament, saw its winners and runners-up qualify for the 2009–10 professional League.
The winners of the tournament were previously given entry to the preliminary stages of the AFC Cup.
The Independence Cup is mainly open to Premier League clubs, however, Services teams and Bangladesh Championship League clubs are also eligible to participate given they receive permission from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).