Bimal Kar (footballer)

Bimal Kar

Bimal after retirement
Personal information
Date of birth	(1937-06-09)9 June 1937
Place of birth	Feni, Bengal Province, British India
Date of death	19 September 2024(2024-09-19) (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

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.

Early life

Bimal Kar was born on 9 June 1937, in Parshuram Upazila of Feni District in Bengal, British India. He was the second child of Rohini Kar and Hiranmayi Kar. 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.

Club career

In 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. In 1966, he joined Victoria SC in the Dhaka First Division League.

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.

International career

During 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.

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.

Post-playing career

Following 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.

Personal life and death

Bimal 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.

Bibliography

• 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.