Former general secretary of South Asian Football Federation and Bangladesh Football Federation, Sirajul Islam Bachchu, also a renowned sports organiser, breathed his last in the capital yesterday. He was 69.
After fighting with various old-age complicacies for a long time, Bachchu passed away at Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was receiving treatment for the last two months. His body will be buried at his family graveyard in Jessore today.
Bachchu was the executive committee member of the BFF and was also the chairman of the BFF’s women’s wing. He was also the former general secretary of Wari Club.
Born in Jessore in 1946, Bachchu was well known in the sports arena. He began his academic career at Sommiliny Mohabiddyaloy and later attended Michael Madhusudhan College before obtaining his master’s degree from the University of Dhaka.
He enjoyed many days of his life in the theater and is a listed member of Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar. His first sports write-up was published in the pages of Daily Pakistan. Bachchu continued writing for various newspapers like Ittefaq and Sangbad before independence. Following the liberation war, Bachchu wrote regularly for sports fortnightly Krirajagat.
He also served as a vice-president in the Bangladesh Olympic Association and the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation and was a life-time member of Wari Club and the Bangladesh Sports Press Association.
The BFF, Bangladesh Women’s Sports Association, Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association, BSPA, the BVF and top-flight club Abahani Limited expressed deep shock at the death of Bachchu and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.
