Md Fazlur Rahman, better known as Ostad Fazlu who grew up as hockey player in Old Dhaka and coached for more than three decades in the same part of the city, passed away Wednesday morning, his nephew confirmed Dhaka Tribune later on the day. He was 57.
Fazlu was responsible for continuing Old Dhaka’s century-old hockey tradition.
Armanitola in the old town was one of the hubs of producing hockey players during British, Pakistan and Bangladesh period.
It maintained its legacy until the formation of hockey in Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan in the 1980s.
Until most recently, the players who were groomed in Armanitola continued to shine in BKSP as well as in the national team.
It was due to a dedicated coach like Ostad (mentor) Fazlu.
Fazlu was a student of Armanitola School which is famous for its hockey for around a century.
He started playing the league in 1978-79 representing PWD hockey team.
He later played for Dhaka Wanderers, Mohammedan, Usha Krira Chakra, Sadharon Bima, Sonali Bank, and Victoria Club before calling it a day.
Renowned hockey player and coach Abdur Razzaq Shona Mia was his mentor.
Fazlu started coaching at early age.
He coached Armanitola school’s hockey team for more than 30 years.
He taught around a dozen hockey players who got call from the national team, including star forward Russel Mahmud Jimmy.
Fazlu also coached at a non-residential hockey academy named Ostad Fazlu Hockey Academy.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he made his roof a training floor for the kids of the locality in Begumbazar area.
Ostad Fazlu left behind his wife, daughter and countless well-wishers and disciples to mourn his death.
