Bangladeshi hockey legend Abdus Sadeque passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He was 78.
Family members confirmed that he breathed his last at 8:00am at the hospital after a period of illness.
Abdus Sadeque's first funeral prayer (Namaz-e-janaza) was held after Asr prayers at the Baitus Sobhan Jame Mosque in Block I of the Bashundhara Residential Area on Saturday. A second janaza will be held on Sunday at 10:30am at the Old DOHS ground in Banani.
Abdus Sadeque left behind a prominent sporting and business legacy. He was the elder brother of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and the father of Ishtiaque Sadeque, Chief Executive Officer of T Sports.
He earned recognition as one of the leading figures in Bangladeshi sports. He starred for the Pakistan national hockey team before Bangladesh’s independence and represented the side on a European tour in 1969, playing in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and England, along with a match in Egypt on the return journey.
Abdus Sadeque gained early fame for his performances during that tour, where his skill and consistency drew wide attention across international venues.
After independence, he captained the Cumilla district team in the 1973 national hockey championship.
He later shifted to coaching and took charge of Abahani Krira Chakra in 1977. Under his leadership, Abahani went unbeaten in the league season, becoming the first club in independent Bangladesh to win the title without defeat.
After stepping down from coaching, Abdus Sadeque moved into sports administration. He served as general secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation from 1983 to 1985.
During his tenure, Bangladesh hosted the 1985 Asia Cup Hockey tournament, an event originally scheduled for Japan. He secured the hosting rights after persuading several Asian Hockey Federation members, including Pakistan, Malaysia, South Korea and Iran.
Bangladesh formed its first national hockey team in the 1977–78 season. Abdus Sadeque captained the side against Sri Lanka in a three-match series, where Bangladesh recorded one win, one draw and one defeat.
He also led Bangladesh in hockey at the 1978 Asian Games, marking the country’s first appearance in the tournament.
