Zakaria Pintoo, freedom fighter and captain of the Shadhin Bangla football team, passed away due to complications from heart disease at a hospital in Dhaka on Monday morning.
National Sports Award winner Pintoo breathed his last around 11:45am at the age of 81, reports BSS.
He leaves behind one son, three daughters, relatives, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal, its senior vice president, vice presidents, executive members, general secretary, officials, and employees expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Pintoo and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Pintoo was born in Naogaon on January 1, 1943.
He represented both the Pakistan national football team and the East Pakistan football team, captaining the latter on numerous occasions.
In club football, Pintoo represented Mohammedan, one of the most popular clubs in Bangladesh, for a continuous period of 14 years.
In recognition of his contribution to the country's football landscape, he was accorded the Independence Award in 1995 and the National Sports Award in 1978.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also expressed condolences on the death of Zakaria Pintoo.
In a message, the chief adviser said he was shocked and saddened to learn that Zakaria Pintoo had died.
“As the leader of that legendary team, he toured India to raise money and crucial support for our wartime government in exile. When he was not playing, he would be cheering up for our freedom fighters and emerged as a face of our liberation struggle,” said the chief adviser.
“After the war of independence, Zakaria Pintoo became our first national team captain. He was a legendary central back and a true defender of the green and red national colours.
"When he ended his two-decade-long playing career, he played a crucial role in organizing sports. He was an out-and-out sportsman till his death," Yunus said.
"I pray for the departed soul. My condolences to his bereaved family and the sports fraternity—to whom Zakaria Pintoo was a true legend," he added.