In 1998 Bambang’s international career began when he was selected to play for the Indonesian youth team; his tally of seven goals in the Asian Cup U-19 Group V made him the competition’s top scorer. He made his senior international debut the following year in a friendly match against Lithuania, in which he scored one goal. His total of 38 goals for his country make him the national team’s highest-ever goalscorer.

Bambang played for several clubs around his hometown as a youth, before beginning his senior career with Persija Jakarta. He was the club’s top goalscorer in 1999–2000 Liga Indonesia with 24 goals. In 2000, he joined EHC Norad in the Dutch Third Division. But after only 4 months he returned to Persija, the only Indonesian club he ever played for.

Bambang helped his club to win the Liga Indonesia in 2001, and he was awarded the accolade of that season’s best player. Persija Jakarta narrowly missed out on winning the championship again in 2004 by one point. The following season Persija reached the 2005 final, but lost 2–3 to Persipura Jayapura.

In the 2002 Tiger Cup, Bambang was the top scorer with 8 goals, but an injury ruled him out of the Indonesian squad for the 2004 event. He scored twice in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup, once against Myanmar and once against Cambodia. In 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup Bambang scored two goals in a match against Thailand, both from penalty kicks. He has scored a total of 12 goals in the ASEAN Football Championship, making him the 5th-highest goalscorer in ASEAN Football Championship history.

Bambang has taken part in four FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014), playing in 14 matches and scoring 3 times. Bambang has also been involved in three AFC Asian Cups: 2000, 2004 and 2007. He scored a goal against Bahrain in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, in a match Indonesia won 2–1.

In 2008, despite interests from English club Derby County, he opted to stay in Indonesia.

In 2010, he had a trial at FC Ingolstadt 04, but failed to secure a contract.

On 18 December 2011, following the match between Sriwijaya and Persija Jakarta, Bambang, Ismed Sofyan and Leo Saputra were involved in an assault on Hilton Moreira at his hotel, allegedly provoked by Hilton’s behaviour during the match.

Bambang has been chosen as a torch bearer for 2012 Summer Olympics flame passage through Calderdale on 24 June 2012.

On 9 December 2013, he signed a one-year contract with Pelita Bandung Raya.

On 3 December 2014, he moved back to Persija Jakarta.

On 17 December 2019, he announce his retirement from professional football after 19 years of career. His last game was a 1-3 victory of Persija Jakarta to Kalteng Putra F.C. in the Tuah Pahoe Stadium. On 17 January 2020, a month after Bambang announce his retirement, he was chosen to become the manager of Persija Jakarta