Zakaria Pintu, captain of the independent Bengal football team, has breathed his last (Innalillahi wa inna ilahi rajioon). He died on Monday afternoon while undergoing treatment in the CCU of Shankare Ibn Sina Hospital in the capital. He was 81 years old.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFA) has confirmed the death of Zakaria Pintu.

Zakaria Pintu was admitted to the hospital after suffering from a heart attack on Sunday. He was admitted to the hospital's CCU as his condition worsened in the evening. He had a stroke while in the CCU. Because of this, his physical condition deteriorated rapidly. The first football captain of the country did not return from there.

Zakaria Pintu died on Monday around 12:15 pm.

Zakaria Pintu's long-time friend, former star hockey player and footballer Pratap Shankar Hazra said on Sunday night that Pintu Bhai is undergoing many tests. When he fell ill in the afternoon, his family brought him to the hospital. I rushed here at 4 o'clock on the news and am still waiting in front of the CCU room.

When asked what the doctors said, Hazra said, I have not spoken to the doctors. One who spoke said that the situation is not very good. On behalf of the family, everyone has asked for prayers for him.

He said, 5-6 days ago Pintu Bhai spoke to me on the phone. Then he said, the body is not going well. Did diabetes suddenly occur?

During the liberation war of 1971, the top footballers of the country formed the independent Bengali football team. This independent Bengali football team created world opinion for the liberation of the people of the country. Zakaria Pintu was the proud captain of the independent Bengal football team. He will be immortal in the football history of Bangladesh as an extraordinary defender and former captain of the national football team.

During the war of liberation, the independent Bengal football team under the leadership of Zakaria Pintu participated in 16 matches in different states of India. The independent Bengali football team won all 12 of them. The money from the ticket sales of that match was given by the independent Bengali football team to the liberation war fund.

Born in Naogaon on January 1, 1943, the football legend began in the late fifties. He played for Mohammedan from 1961 to 1975. He also served as the coach of that club.