Bimal Kar (Bengali: বিমল কর, romanized: Bimol Kor, pronounced [bimɔl kɔɾ] ; 9 June 1937 – 19 September 2024) was a Bangladeshi footballer. A centre-back, he was a member of the Shadhin Bangla football team during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
 Bimal after retirement | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 June 1937 | ||
| Place of birth | Feni, Bengal Province, British India | ||
| Date of death | 19 September 2024 (aged 87) | ||
| Place of death | Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1959–? | Chittagong Railway | ||
| 1966 | Victoria SC | ||
| 1973–1974 | Chittagong Mohammedan | ||
| 1975–1976 | Young Star Club | ||
| International career | |||
| 1971 | Shadhin Bangla | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editBimal Kar was born on 9 June 1937, in Parshuram Upazila of Feni District in Bengal, British India.[1] He was the second child of Rohini Kar and Hiranmayi Kar.[2] Bimal attended Feni High School, where he represented the school football team alongside Feni Evergreen Club in numerous football tournaments. Eventually, while studying at Comilla Victoria College, he participated in tournaments in Chittagong.[3]
Club career
editIn 1959, Bimal became a railway worker at Chittagong Railway and also started representing their football team in the Chittagong Football League. He also represented Chittagong Customs and Chittagong Power Board in the Chittagong First Division.[4] In 1966, he joined Victoria SC in the Dhaka First Division League.[5]
Bimal captained Chittagong Mohammedan in both 1973 and 1974, during which the club became consecutive Chittagong First Division champions. He retired in 1976, after playing for Chittagong's Young Star Club.[6][7]
International career
editDuring the 1971 Liberation War, Bimal took shelter in Agartala, India, where he began playing in the Agartala Football League with Friends Club. Eventually, he was recruited by the Shadhin Bangla football team and came on as a substitute for Sheikh Monsur Ali during the team's inaugural match against Nadia XI on 25 July 1971. He became a regular starter for the team, which played a total of 16 friendly matches across India to raise economic support for the liberation war.[8][9]
On 13 February 1972, Bimal took part in the first football match in newly independent Bangladesh, representing Bangladesh XI against President XI. His team, composed of players from the Shadhin Bangla football team, lost 2–0 in the game held at Dhaka Stadium.[10]
Post-playing career
editFollowing his retirement as a player in 1976, Bimal served as a first-rate football referee under the Chittagong District Sports Association and Bangladesh Football Federation. He also played an active role in administering Chittagong Mohammedan.[6][11]
Personal life and death
editBimal was married, and had three daughters and a son. He died on 19 September 2024 while undergoing treatment for age-related complications at Dhaka Central Military Hospital. He was 87.[12][7][13][14]
References
edit- ^ "বিকাল ৫টায় বিমল করের অন্তেষ্টিক্রিয়া". Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "চলে গেলেন স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের খেলোয়াড় বিমল কর". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের বিমল কর চলে গেলেন". bangla.bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "চলে গেলেন স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের বিমল". shokalshondha.com (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "নীরবেই চলে গেলেন স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের এক সৈনিক". Prothomalo (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b "পরলোকে স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের বিমল". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b "চলে গেলেন স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের বিমল কর". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Swadhin Bangla football team member Bimal Kar passes away at 83". The Business Standard. 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Shadhin Bangla Football Team: The underappreciated heroes". The Business Standard. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Alam, Masud. "বঙ্গবন্ধু বলেছিলেন, 'তোরা ভালো খেল'". Prothomalo. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "চলে গেলেন স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের খেলোয়াড় বিমল কর". protidinerbangladesh.com (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের বিমল কর আর নেই". Jugantor (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Swadhin Bangla football team member Bimal Kar passes away". The Daily Star. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "বিমল করের শেষ কৃত্য সম্পন্ন". dainikamadershomoy.com (in Bengali). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Mahmud, Dulal (2020). খেলার মাঠে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ [Liberation war in the playground] (in Bengali). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. ISBN 978-984-8218-31-0.
- Mahmud, Noman (2018). ফুটবল পায়ে মুক্তির যুদ্ধ [Liberation war fought by football] (in Bengali). Agamee Prakashani. ISBN 978-984-8218-31-0.