Sabina Yeasmin was not only a teammate but also a friend-cum-sister to most of the Bangladesh U-16 women footballers, and mostly to the ones who hail from Mymensingh's remote village of Kolsindur.
When Sabina got selected for the Bangladesh U-14 preliminary squad three years ago, she was only 11.
She was part of the ongoing U-15 training camp and was supposed to return to the camp in Dhaka Wednesday, along with U-16 forward Tohura Khatun.
But the 14-year old striker had to accept an untimely and unfortunate death when she breathed her last at Dhobaura upazila of Manikganj district Tuesday at around 3:15pm.
According to the BFF and Dhaka Tribune's Mymensingh correspondent, Ashraf Uddin, Sabina suffered from fever in the last few days.
When the condition worsened, she was taken to the nearest Dhobaura upazila health complex where the doctor declared her dead.
Tohura, whose house is only five-six mins away from her house, revealed more information to Dhaka Tribune.
"Fever was not her only sickness. The temperature was rather a bit down (Monday) but she was feeling terrible pain and was taken to a local doctor in Kolsindur bazar. The doctor gave her medicines but it didn't work. She couldn't sleep the whole night. She asked me to inform the football federation that she can't join the camp on time. She was taken to another doctor but when the situation didn't improve, she was taken to hospital," said Tohura.
Sabina, a class nine student at Kolsindur high school, left behind her mother, younger brother and elder sister.
Her father Selim Mia died when she was little.
Despite her age, she was one of the bread earner of her family, who often struggled to make ends meet.
The death of a promising footballer not only disappointed the family but also shocked her national footballer friends, with whom Sabina lifted the national inter-school Gold Cup title.
National midfielder Maria Manda, who is also a key member of the U-16 side, informed that Sabina was training with them during the U-16 camp.
When the U-16 team flew off to Thailand for the AFC U-16 Championship 2017, Sabina was given vacation.
She went to her village Kolsindur on September 7.
Sabina was supposed to join the camp ahead of the U-15 Saff Championship in December this year.
"We grew up together, read in the same school, practised together in Dhaka for three-four years. She was like a friend and a sister to us," said Maria after arriving at her hometown Tuesday.
BFF coach Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Litu has been one of the mentors of Sabina since 2014.
He said, "She was basically a striker but could play on the wings as well. She was very polite and quiet. She talked very little and had close understanding with the girls of her village. Her death is a big loss for Bangladesh football."
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
