In 1948, the Dhaka First Division League, commonly referred to as the Dhaka Senior Division League, was officially recognized and functioned as the top-tier football league of East Bengal (1948–1954), East Pakistan (1955–1948), and eventually Bangladesh following the country's independence in 1971.

Although the league had been operating unofficially since 1915, the champions until its official recognition are mostly unrecorded.

The top-tier was reintroduced as the Dhaka Premier Division League in 1993.

It replaced the semi–professional Dhaka Premier Division League as the country's top-tier.

In an attempt to decentralise domestic football Bangladesh Football Federation introduced the professional league and gave entry to clubs from Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet in the first edition.