Legendary goalkeeper Ranjit Das passes away at 94

Legendary footballer Ranjit Das, one of Bangladesh’s greatest goalkeepers, passed away early this morning at a Sylhet city hospital following a cardiac arrest. He was 94.

Das, a towering figure in pre-independence football, represented the East Pakistan football team from 1955 to 1961. He leaves behind his wife, four daughters, one son, and countless admirers who mourn his loss.

“My father suffered a massive heart attack at about 4:00 am and passed away this morning,” his son Rajib Das told The Daily Star from Sylhet. “He had been admitted to the hospital on January 31 following a sudden illness and was later moved to the ICU. Although he seemed well yesterday, he suffered the fatal heart attack last night. His funeral will be held at Sylhet’s Talibandar Crematorium this evening.”

A goalkeeper par excellence, Das played for Ispahani Club, Azad Sporting Club, and Mohammedan SC before Bangladesh’s liberation. He also served as a coach for the East Pakistan youth team and Azad SC, nurturing a new generation of players.

In discussions about Bangladesh’s top goalkeepers in the post-independence era, names like Shantoo [Shahidur Rahman Shantoo], Mohsin [Mohammad Mohsin], and Aminul [Aminul Haque] often dominate. But before independence, there was one undisputed name: Ranjit Das. The stalwart was the mainstay of the East Pakistan team and was even called up for the Pakistan national team camp, though he never played internationally. 

His contributions to the sport earned him the National Sports Award, cementing his place as a legend in Bangladeshi football history.