Harunur Rashid, founding general secretary of Abahani, dies at 77

Harunur Rashid, a well-known sports organiser and the founding general secretary of Dhaka Abahani Limited, has died. He died late on Monday night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He was 77.

Ashish Roy Chowdhury, Abahani club's administration in-charge, confirmed his death.

Harunur Rashid had long been suffering from various age-related physical complications. He had been seriously ill for about the last four years. His illness began with Covid, and his condition worsened over time. He frequently had to be admitted to hospital.

This time he had been in hospital for several days. Before his death he was put on life support. About an hour earlier, his family decided to remove the life support.

Harunur Rashid played an important role in Bangladesh sports for a long time. After Abahani Krira Chakra was founded in 1972, he took charge as the club's founding general secretary. His contribution to Abahani's organisational work and sporting development was significant in the years that followed.

He remained connected with Bangladesh sports from the time of independence until his death. Abahani and Harun were known as complements of each other.

He served five times as general secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation. He remained on the federation's executive committee until 2024. He was long involved in strengthening the organisational structure of football in the country and in developing the game.

Besides the football federation and Abahani, Harunur Rashid held various important responsibilities at the Bangladesh Olympic Association and the National Sports Council.

As a sports organiser he also worked at the international level. He was associated with various activities of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the world football governing body FIFA.

Beyond sports, Harunur Rashid was a member of parliament from the Lakshmipur-2 constituency.

Through him, star sportsmen such as Badal Roy, Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul and Abdul Gaffar became organisers. He received the National Sports Award for his outstanding contribution to sports.

His death has cast a shadow of grief over the country's sporting arena.