Lebanese forward Mohamad Kdouh scored the match winner for star-studded Bashundhara Kings, which dominated the match for most of the proceedings.
The big-budgeted Kings showed a disappointing display in the first half of the game. They missed several close chances to score against their weak opponents Brothers Union Club.
The Kings got their first success in the 23rd minute as their Lebanese forward Kdouh found the opponent net by a well-placed right-footed grounder from the box, utilising a long pass from captain-cum-Costa Rica forward Daniel Colindres Solera (1-0).
They continued their dominance over Brothers Union putting pressure on their opponents and created several eye-catching chances.
In the 25th minute, referee GM Chowdhury Nayan disappointed the Kings rejecting a goal due to foul when Argentine defender Nicolas Delmonte sent the ball home with a close-range header, off a corner from captain Colindres.
After that scorer Kdouh missed two more close chances in a span of two minutes -- in the 30th minute the Lebanese forward missed the target off a Colindres cross and in the 32nd minute his close range right-footer deflected after hitting the far post.
In the 38th minute, forward Motin Mia missed another chance as his close-range shot hit the bar.
After the halftime, Bashundhara Kings started to play aggressive football. In a span of one minute (58th-59th minutes), Brothers Union goalkeeper Titumir Chowdhury denied two good attempts of Bashundhara attackers.
Brother Union tried their best to come back in the match. The Gopibagh outfit made some counter-attacks but national coloured goalkeeper of the Kings Anisur Rahman Zico denied all of their efforts.
Nicolas Delmonte of Kings and Vali Jonov Otabek of Brothers Union were cautioned with yellow cards in the match.
The BPL champions Kings will take on Chittagong Abahani Ltd in their 2nd and last group match on December 26 (Thursday) at 3:30 pm at the same venue.
Bashundhara Kings: Nurul Naium Faisal, Yeasin Khan, Motin Mia/Tawhidul Alam Sabuj, Bishwanath Ghosh, Mahbubur Rahman/Emon Mahmud, Anisur Rahman Zico, Daniel Colindres Solera, Nicolas Delmonte, Rimon Hossain/Sushanto Tripura, Mohamad Kdouh, Akhtan Nazarov.
Brothers Union Ltd: Titumir Chowdhury, Arup Baidya, Shofiqul Islam Shofi, Mezbah Uddin/Md Sujon, Vali Jonov Otabek, Mokarram Hossain/Chamir Ullah, Faisal Mahmood/Jewel Mollik, Nkwocha Kingsley Chigozie, Tuychibayen Murodjon, Md Sajol, Ebrahim Hossain Rana.
Referee: G M Chowdhury Nayan.