Amartya Sen, the native of Bangladesh and the citizen and Nobel laureate in economics of India said: "In the eighteenth century, Adam Smith (1723-1790), the famous Scottish economist held Bengal as one of the richest heritages of the world. As a result, the Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, Danish alongside many Europeans used to come in Bengal for production, trade and business purposes."
In that era, Mymensingh was famous for jute producing businesses in the world. The Europeans and Englishmen who were involved with the jute businesses of Mymensingh, used to play football with the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. At that time European sporting clubs existed in Myemnsingh except only local Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club was established in 1889. Myemensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was founded in 1898 after seven years of Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club which was established in 1891. The birth of East Bengal Club was in 1920 and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club was in 1936. Later days, the sports world of Mymensingh was blessed after creation of Mymensingh Friends Eleven Club in 1901, Panditpara Athletic Club in 1910 and Station Quarters Athletic Club in 1931.
It may be mentioned here that Mohun Began Club was the first Indian club that defeated East Yorkshire Regiment, the European club by 2-1 and lifted the first ever 1911 Indian Football Association (IFA) shield! Avilash Ghose, the Black Giant of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was the then centre forward of Calcutta Mohun Began Athletic Club.
Even though Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club was born for Muslim Renaissance, there were no influences of sectarianism in the Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. Hindu-Muslim players played side by side in the Mymensingh Mohammaden Sporting Club. Kiran Acharya was a noted right out of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club and he was famous for his attractive corner kick. Noga De, Davinath and so on were skilled footballers of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club. Illias Uddin Ahmed and M A Khan Fonu of Mymensingh Sporting Club played football for Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club. Besides, Gias Uddin, Runu Bose and Mubarak of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club played football for Calcutta East Bengal Club, Calcutta Kalighat Club and Calcutta Town Club respectively.
In 1937, Islington Corinthians, the formidable soccer team of England came to Dhaka and played an exhibition match with Dhaka XI, but were defeated by 1-0. Pakhi Sen of Mymensingh scored that historical goal and Mosaraf Hossain Kala of Mymensingh Mohammedan Sporting Club also played in that match. It may be mentioned here that the Islington Corinthians was unbeaten in India and Burma.
Moroccan scholar and traveller Ibn Battuta (1304-1369) visited Bangladesh in the medieval period. He wrote in his book that nowhere did he see the prices of essential commodities as low as in Bangladesh. He also recoded the destruction caused by cyclones, tornadoes and floods each year in Bangladesh. That is why he called Bangladesh "a dozakh-i-pur az n'iamat," or "a hell full of gifts." The description of Ibn Battuta is still valid.
Francois Bernier (1620-1688), the French physician, who was charmed by visiting Bangladesh recorded the natural beauties of the land, its abundance of resources, as well as the tradition of hospitality. He wrote: "Bengal has hundred gates open for entrance, but note one for departure." Bangladesh still maintains its age-old tradition, despite poverty, which was absent then.
The writer is based in the USA.
E-mail: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net
