A pall of gloom descended on the country's sporting arena as Harunur Rashid, a pioneering figure in Bangladesh's modern football movement, passed away. The founding general secretary of Abahani Krira Chakra and five-time former general secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) breathed his last around 12:00 am on Tuesday at LabAid Hospital in Dhaka. He was 77 and had been suffering from various age-related complications for a long time.
Final Tributes at Abahani Premises
The Abahani club premises in Dhanmondi was draped in mourning on Tuesday afternoon. The janaza of Harunur Rashid was held there after Zuhr prayers — at the very club he had helped build with his own hands. Hundreds of athletes, organisers and members of the public bid an emotional farewell to their beloved guardian. Before the janaza, his coffin was draped in the club's familiar flag.Former footballers, cricketers, hockey players and organisers were overcome with emotion at the scene. The entire premises fell silent in the presence of numerous dignitaries, including club director Anjan Chowdhury Pintu. After the janaza, various sports organisations and the office of the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports paid their last respects by placing floral wreaths on his body.
Burial in Hometown
Following the janaza, his body was taken to his birthplace in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur district, where he was laid to rest in the family graveyard.Figures from the sporting community noted that Abahani and Harunur Rashid were complementary to each other. His contribution as one of the key architects of modern football in Bangladesh will remain etched in memory.
