From 2000 to 2006, the National Football League was contested by club champions from various districts (Chittagong, Rajshahi, Barishal, and Sylhet), in addition to the top three finishing teams from the country's premier division at the time, the Dhaka Premier Division League.

[3] From 2005 to 2007, the Dhaka Premier Division League was not held, which meant the National Football League was the only functioning competition which had the country's top clubs participate, aside from than the domestic cup competitions.

This marked the beginning of Bangladesh's first professional football league contested on a national scale, which meant that a National Football League would no longer be required.

[6] Nitol-Tata Group was the title sponsor of the entirety of the competition.

For sponsorship reason, the competition was also known as Nitol-Tata National Football League.