Shadhin Bangla Football Team: The underappreciated heroes

The country was being devastated by a bloody war. Millions of people had breathed their last. A huge number of people were forced to flee their homes. In this moment of crisis, a group of youngsters were getting ready to play a football match in India. The members of the Shadhin Bangla Football team were wondering how they could free their country by playing football.

They soon found the answer. The main objective was to form a public opinion in favour of Bangladesh. Not only the objective was successful, they got some funding as well.

The Shadhin Bangla Football team played 16 exhibition matches in different states and cities of India including West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai. The response was unbelievable. They got to play alongside and against the likes of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Chuni Goswami. Bollywood stars in the form of Dileep Kumar and Kishore Kumar extended helping hands. The Shadhin Bangla Football team handed over 16.33 Lakh Taka to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh. 

But the invaluable contribution of these heroes has hardly been recognised by the government. Many of them have been leading a subhuman life, but no one helped them financially. 

Every year in December, these elderly footballers feature in the media, narrating their stories of misery. There's been no different this year too. Fifty years have passed since the Liberation War, but the Shadhin Bangla Football team hasn't been given proper recognition. 

Few of the members of the iconic team spoke to The Business Standard (TBS) on the occasion of the Victory Day about the historic tour, post-war Bangladesh and beyond.

Mujibur Rahman

We probably were the first group of people who underwent military training in Agartala. When we came back, we came to know that the ones who played football were asked to meet the government in Mujibnagar. 

My elder brother died in Jessore (now Jashore) while fighting for the country. I wanted to participate in the war and take revenge. But my relatives and friends requested me to join the football team which I eventually did.

We were overwhelmed with the response we got. Thousands of spectators would come to watch us play and gladly helped us financially so that we can buy foods and medicines for the freedom fighters. 

We noticed in our first match that the Indian flag was flying instead of ours. We said that our national flag would also fly and national anthem would be played. Then we gave a lap with our national flag, chanting "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu."

I was the youngest of all, studying Intermediate only. We played against (Mansoor Ali Khan) Pataudi. He was a cricketer but played football pretty well too. Legendary Indian footballer Chuni Goswami also played against us for Mohun Bagan. 

It's disappointing not to be given proper recognition. In 1972, Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) arranged a match between us and the Bangladesh national team.  Abu Sayeed (Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury) and Bangabandhu both were present. 

During her tenure, Khaleda Zia awarded us a crest. That's it. What makes me sad is, the daughter of Bangabandhu did not do anything for us. We have heard several times that we would get the Independence Award, but not to be.

We are given an allowance of three thousand taka per month from the National Sports Council. It's better not to give that. It's shameful for us. Even a day labourer earns more than this.

Biren Kumar Biru (Goalkeeper)

We went to India as refugees. Then we came to know through television and radio about the Shadhin Bangla Football team. It was previously called 'Joy Bangla Football team'. We were called to Kandania State (Coca Cola Building) at Park Street where some of the senior players used to live. Saidur Rahman Patel took the initiative to form the team. No such team was formed before in the world. We wanted to fight for the country through the sport. 

We turned up at the Coca Cola Building. We were 40 in number. Few of them couldn't make it, so 36-37 footballers started practising. All of us used to sleep in a single room, with great difficulty. We had to use the same restroom. 

Then we moved to Mallick Building, behind Kolkata New Market. We used to practice on different grounds. Then we started to get proposals to play. We played 16 games, won one, lost two and the rest were drawn. (Kazi) Salahuddin changed his name to Turzo Hazra. He and Enayet (Enayetur Rahman) became very popular. Thousands of people used to come to watch us play. We handed over the money we got from the matches.

I am still having goosebumps while narrating the story. There was a blackout from December 3 to 15. When the lights were finally on the 16th, we came to know that we were free. This feeling is indescribable. 

I am still having goosebumps while narrating the story. There was a blackout from December 3 to 15. When the lights were finally on the 16th, we came to know that we were free. This feeling is indescribable.

12 of the 36 footballers have passed away. Six of them have settled abroad. Toslim (Uddin Sheikh) is sick. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for helping him financially. She has helped some of them when they fell ill. But we want her to call us and give us national recognition. 

Sanjit (Kumar Dey) is not in a good state financially, neither am I. My son and daughter are yet to get a job. I used to have a job in a jute mill but I'm retired now.  We did so much for the country but no one understands our pain. We will die soon. The NSC gives us a monthly allowance of three thousand taka. Upon our requests, former sports minister Biren Sikder announced that we would get ten thousand taka. But it never happened.

Saidur Rahman Patel (Founder)

We started to undergo military training at Bikrampur. We did not have enough weapons. But we kept them to the youngsters, saying that they had to act up when there was danger. 

Then we in a few groups crossed the border. But we did not have any place to stay in Kolkata.

Mohsin Uncle, one of the four members of our group, had a friend called Subodh Saha in Ballygunge. We went to his house and he was generous enough to leave the drawing-room for us.

The younger brother of Subodh Saha was surprised to know that I was a first division footballer and offered me a job at North Bengal Railways which was one of the best clubs then. I immediately declined, saying that I went there to free my country, not to save my life like a coward.

The next morning, the idea of forming a football team peeped into my mind. I shared it with my group-mates by they didn't seem to be very convinced. I said that if everything went according to plan, we would be able to create public opinion in favour of us as well as get some funding. 

I convinced them and made a draft addressing Tajuddin Ahmed, sitting at a small restaurant at Deshapriya Park. We went to AHM Qamaruzzaman and he really liked the idea. He gave 200 Taka each to us for pocket money. 

We then went to Shamsul Haque who took us to Tajuddin Ahmed. He was delighted to hear what I said and immediately approved of the idea. He gave us 14 thousand Taka, which was a big amount back then.

We got the approval from the Indian government and All India Football Association (Aifa). We were given a room in the Coca Cola Building. 

Photo: Collected

I went to Shadhin Bangla Radio Station. There, Ali Zaker and Hasan Imam listening to me said that they would air the news. Listening to this, a lot of footballers came to Agartala. We made (Zakaria) Pintoo bhai our captain, keeping in mind his experience and maturity. Pratap Shankar Hazra was the deputy to him. (Tanvir Mazhar) Tanna was our manager. After playing two matches, I returned home to take part in the Liberation War. But the team played 16 matches. 

I don't know the reason why we were never given recognition. It is very disappointing when your contribution is not acknowledged. Few of the players were awarded but I didn't despite being the founder. 

Thanks to the Prime Minister for helping Amalesh (Sen) da financially. She gave 15-20 Lakh Taka to Ainul's (Haque) family after his death. The family of the likes of Toslim (Uddin Sheikh), Fazle Hossain Khokon, Lutfor (Rahman) were helped. But they never called either me or Tanna. We had been in Dhaka, but we were not at all aware of these.

Mujib (Ur Rahman) hasn't been in good state, Bimal (Kar) da too. Mojammel has to seek for help from others. Mahmud (Ur Rashid) has died and his family is in trouble. The Shadhin Bangla Radio Station is recognised, so why not us? Some say that we have our names in the gadget and do not need anything. Then I do not find anything to say.

Kazi Salahuddin 

It was very difficult for me to reach Agartala and then get to Kolkata from there. From Dhanmondi, we went to Sadarghat on foot. Then we hired a boat to reach the other side of the river. It wasn't safe because the Pakistani Military used to fire bullets at the boats. We walked for two days and finally reached Agartala.

We were arrested on arrival at Agartala. They didn't know us. Abdul Kuddus Makhon was the in-charge of Agartala camp. He found me in jail and set me free. I stayed at the camp for a week. A photographer named Ujjal arranged our departure on a cargo flight. In three and a half hours, we arrived in Kolkata. 

We played our first match at Krishnanagar. He drew the match. We were yet to be a free country. So our flag was not flying. But we were adamant that our flag had to fly. The DC of Krishnanagar was suspended for this risky decision. 

We played the next match against Mohun Bagan. We drew the match 2-2. I and Enayet scored the goals. That particular match made us believe that we could play well. Nawab (Mansoor Ali Khan) Pataudi played for 20 minutes. He was the skipper of Indian cricket team then. The likes of Sharmila Tagore, Dileep Kumar used to come to watch our matches. They donated a lot of money too. We handed over all the money to the Provisional Government. 

I was 16 then. Turzo is my nickname. I feared that if my name grabbed the headlines, then the Pakistani Military would abduct my family. That's why I changed my name to Turzo Hazra.

We returned to Kolkata the day the country became independent. There were blackouts at nights because of bombings. But that night we heard people shouting and noticed that the lights were on. We came to know that Bangladesh was free. The Indians celebrated with us. I can't describe the scenes in words.