Captain of the Swadhin Bangla Football team, former vice- president of Bangladeshi Football Federation (BFF) and freedom fighter M Zakaria Pintoo passed away on Monday at a hospital in the city, report agencies.
He was 81.
He left behind one son, three daughters and a large number of admirers to mourn his death.
Zakaria Pintoo, also a member of Jatiya Press Club, was admitted to the Ibne Sina Hospital in the capital Sunday afternoon as he was feeling very sick after suddenly fell down at his residence.
Later, he was shifted to the ICU of the hospital Sunday evening as his condition was further critical and deteriorated and finally he took his last breath there at about 11:45 am on Monday.
Pintoo, a renowned defender cum captain of Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club, made his first international appearance as the Bangladesh captain in the Merdeka Cup Football Tournament in Malaysia in 1973.
During the Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, Pintoo led the Swadhin Bangla Football, which played a good number of exhibition matches in India to raise funds for the country' s freedom fighters.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed condolences at the death of Zakaria Pintoo.
In a message, the CA said he was shocked and saddened to learn that Zakaria Pintoo, a freedom fighter and the captain of historic Swadhin Bangla Football Dal, died.
"As the leader of that legendary team, he toured India to raise money and crucial support for our wartime government in exile. When he was not playing, he would be cheering up for our freedom fighters and emerged as a face of our liberation struggle," said the chief adviser.
"After the war of independence, Zakaria Pintoo became our first national team captain. He was a legendary central back and a true defender of the Green and Red national colours.
When he ended his two decade-long playing career, he played a crucial role in organising sports. He was an out-and-out sportsman till this death," Prof Yunus said.
"I pray for the departed soul. My condolences to his bereaved family and the sports fraternity-to whom Zakaria Pintoo was a true legend," he added.
BFF president Tabith Awal, Sr VP, VPs and executive committee members also condole the death of Zakaria Pintoo.
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