Bangladesh has lost one of its brightest sports figures with the passing of Abdus Sadeq, the country’s first national hockey captain and a celebrated football and hockey star. He died on the morning of June 20, 2026, at Continental Hospital in Gulshan, Dhaka, after a long battle with cancer. He was 78 and is survived by his wife, two sons, one daughter, and numerous admirers. His first funeral prayer will be held after Asr prayers in Bashundhara Residential Area, followed by a second one at Banani DOHS field the next morning.

Sadeq was a pioneering figure in Bangladesh’s post-independence sports history. He captained the first national hockey team and also led the Abahani football team in 1972. During the 1970s and 1980s, he excelled in both football and hockey, notably leading the national hockey team in the 1978 Asian Games. In recognition of his achievements, he received the National Sports Award in 1996 and later contributed as a sports organizer.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque expressed deep sorrow, describing Sadeq as a guardian-like figure whose legacy will remain cherished in Bangladesh’s sporting history.