National sports awardee and former footballer Zahirul Haque, who was also the captain of the traditional black and white Mohammedan Sporting Club, passed away on Saturday at 07:00 am (BST).
Zahirul, who had been suffering from old-age complications for the last few years, suffered a heart attack on Thursday. Later, he was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka where he breathed his last at the age of 89.
The country’s football legend left behind wife, two sons, two daughters and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.  

His namaz-e-janaza was held at two places – in Paikpara after Asr and in Manipuri Para after Maghrib before the burial at the Banani Graveyard.
Zahirul was one of the few footballers of this country, the then East Pakistan, who got a chance to play in the Pakistan national football team.

He played for the Pakistan national football team in various tournaments both at home and abroad including Malaysia’s Merdeka Cup, Asian Games and friendlies against Myanmar (the then Burma) during the 1960s.
He was also the captain of the East Pakistan football team in 1960.
After Independence in 1971, he played for the Bangladesh national football team.

Zahirul started his career as a footballer at the Tejgaon Friends Union Club in 1954. Then, he joined the Central Printing and Stationery Club in 1956.
Later, the defender joined Mohammedan SC in 1960 and played there for the next 17 years till 1977.

During his 17-year career in Mohammedan, he clinched Aga Khan Gold Cup two times in 1964 and 1968.  He led the traditional black and white in different competitions five times.
Zahirul was felicitated with the National Sports Award in 2001 for his contribution to the country’s football. He also received various other prestigious awards from different organizations.
The Bangladesh Football Federation alongside the football fraternity expressed profound shock and condoled the bereaved family.