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Sporting Witness: Bangladesh's football heroes

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Bangladesh's football heroes

16/12/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Bangladesh's football heroes

How the national football team helped the country's fight for independence in 1971.

In 1971, the Bangladeshi football team made history at the height of the country's war of independence when they played a series of matches in India. The games were the first to be played under the flag of a nation that was still not officially recognised and helped raise money for Bangladesh's independence struggle. Farhana Haider talks to star striker Kazi Salahuddin, who was smuggled into India so he could take part in the matches. 

Photo:The Shadhin Bangla Football Dol "Free Bengal Football Team", 1971. Credit: Kazi Salahuddin.

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