Desk Report:
One of the brightest stars in Bangladesh’s sports arena, legendary hockey player and organizer Abdus Sadeq is no more. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital today (June 20, 2026) at 8 am (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). He was 78 years old at the time of his death.
According to family sources of the deceased, his first funeral will be held at Baitus Sobhan Jame Mosque in ‘I’ Block of Bashundhara Residential Area after Asr today. He will be buried after the second funeral at Banani Old DOHS Ground in the capital tomorrow, Sunday at 10:30 am.
It is to be noted that Abdus Sadeq is the elder brother of Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, chairman of Bashundhara Group, a leading industrial company in the country. Besides, Ishtiaq Sadeq, a sports personality and the CEO of the country’s only sports-based satellite channel T Sports, is his eldest son. His father, Advocate Abdus Sobhan, was also a famous swimmer during the British era.
Versatile sports talent and golden career:
Abdus Sadeq was one of the leading figures in the sports history of post-independence Bangladesh. He was equally skilled not only in hockey, but also in football and cricket. He has the unique honor of being the first captain of both the football and hockey teams of Dhaka’s traditional club Abahani Krira Chakra.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of sports, he was awarded the National Sports Award in 1996.
Abdus Sadeq shook the field on a European tour for the undivided Pakistan national hockey team before independence. He attracted attention in the international arena by displaying excellent skills against teams like Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and England on that tour in 1969. After independence, he captained the Comilla district team in the National Hockey Championship in 1973.
In the 1977-78 season, he led the team in a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka on the first official tour of the Bangladesh national hockey team. Later, when Bangladesh participated in the Asian Games for the first time in 1978, Abdus Sadek was still the captain of the hockey team.
Successful coach and visionary organizer:
After his playing career, Abdus Sadek took over as the coach of the Abahani football team and made history there too. Under his leadership, Abahani became the first team to become undefeated champions in the domestic football league without losing a single match.
Later, as a visionary sports organizer, he served as the General Secretary of the Hockey Federation (1983–1985). It was his single-handed efforts and diplomatic skills that led the Asian Hockey Federation to select Dhaka as the venue for the second Asia Cup Hockey in 1985 instead of Japan.
Abdus Sadeq’s death was an irreparable loss to the country’s sports scene. His death has cast a shadow of deep grief among various sports organizations, clubs and sports enthusiasts.
