A piece of Brazil in Bangladesh: Football fan paints home in yellow and green

A small village in Bangladesh has turned into what locals describe as “a piece of Brazil”, thanks to a football enthusiast who transformed his house into a tribute to the South American football giants.

From the walls of the house to its boundary fence, everything is painted in Brazil’s iconic yellow and green colours. Murals of football legends including Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Roberto Carlos and Neymar cover the exterior walls, while Bangladesh’s red-and-green national flag also features prominently in the artwork. In bold letters at the front of the property is the word “Brazil”, making the house a striking symbol of football passion.

The unique house belongs to Rubel Mia, 35, a resident of Chatra-Chandpur village under Dharkhar Union in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria district. Driven by his love for the Brazil national football team, he decided to decorate both the building and boundary walls in the style of the Brazilian flag.

The colourful home has quickly become a local attraction, drawing visitors from distant areas every day. Not only Brazil supporters, but also fans of other football teams are visiting the site and praising its creativity and aesthetic appeal.

According to local residents, the initiative — blending football fandom with artistic expression — has generated widespread discussion across the area. Many say the house has become one of Akhaura’s notable attractions, increasing the locality’s visibility and popularity.

Rubel Mia, the youngest among five brothers and two sisters, is the son of the late Habibur Rahman. He spent nearly eight years abroad, living in Singapore, Malaysia and Georgia, while also spending time in India and Nepal. Currently, he is involved in business and politics and serves as vice-president of the Dharkhar Union Jubo Dal.

Speaking about his inspiration, Rubel said he had supported Brazil ever since he began understanding football. “Out of love for the team, I painted my house and boundary walls in the style of Brazil’s flag. I also included Bangladesh’s red-and-green flag alongside portraits of my favourite footballers such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Kaka and Neymar,” he said.

He added that it took 18 days to complete most of the painting work and has so far cost around Tk160,000. However, the work is not yet fully finished and will require another five to six days to complete. Two painters and four workers are currently engaged in the remaining work.

For many visitors, the house stands as more than just a football tribute — it reflects how deeply the sport resonates with people in Bangladesh, where international football loyalties often inspire remarkable displays of passion and creativity.