Skipper Litton Das top-scored with 59 as Bangladesh beat a spirited Hong Kong by seven wickets in their first match of the Asia Cup on Thursday.
Hong Kong posted 143-7 after Nizakat Khan made 42 in the T20 meeting in Abu Dhabi where the minnows were invited to bat first.
Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their chase to raise Hong Kong hopes of an upset but Litton put on a stand of 95 with Towhid Hridoy, who made an unbeaten 35, to reach 144-3 in 17.4 overs.
Litton reached his 50 in 33 balls but fell to medium-pace bowler Ateeq Iqbal before Towhid hit the winning run for a team that came into the T20 tournament with three successive series victories.
"Very important to win the first game," said Litton, who was named player of the match.
"Last couple of series, we have played good cricket. But in Asia Cup, little bit of pressure comes automatically."
Classy and composed – a treat to watch at the crease. 👏 pic.twitter.com/HzLMouD0hH
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 11, 2025
Bangladesh registered their first T20 win against Hong Kong, who had defeated the Tigers in their only previous meeting in 2014.
It was Hong Kong's second straight defeat in Group B, which includes Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs in the tournament opener.
BOSSED THE BOWLING
Hong Kong lost two early wickets before Nizakat paired up with Zeeshan Ali, who made 30, in a third-wicket stand of 41.
Nizakat then got into another partnership of 46 with skipper Yasim Murtaza, who hit 28 off 19 balls, as the two counter-attacked.
Murtuza was run out and legspinner Rishad Hossain struck twice in the next over, including taking Nizakat's key wicket, as the Hong Kong batting line-up stuttered towards the end.
"I am happy with the way our batters scored," said Murtaza. "But I will be happier if we got 160-170 plus – that would be a different total."
Pace bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib stood out with figures of 2-21 from his four overs. Taskin Ahmed and Rishad also took two wickets each.
In reply, Bangladesh slipped to 47-2 before Litton and Towhid rebuilt the innings and then bossed the opposition bowling.
Pakistan will open their campaign on Friday against Oman in Dubai.
Along with regional bragging rights, the Twenty20 competition will serve as a build-up towards the T20 World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.