| Association | Bangladesh Krira Samity |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Nani Bashak |
| Captain | Zakaria Pintoo |
| First international | |
Shadhin Bangla  2–2  Nadia XIKhishnanagar Stadium, Nadia district, West Bengal, India 25 July 1971 | |
The Shadhin Bangla football team (lit. Independent Bengal football team) was formed by Bangladesh Krira Samity of the Bangladeshi government in exile shortly after the start of liberation war in 1971. This is the first instance of a Bangladesh national football team in any form. The team toured throughout India playing a total of 16 friendly matches to raise international awareness and economic support for the liberation war.[1][2][3]
The Shadhin Bangla football team captain Zakaria Pintoo, was the first person to hoist the Bangladesh flag outside the territorial Bangladesh.[4] By the end of the 16th match the team had contributed Tk 5 lac to Muktijuddho Fund in 1971.[5]
- ^ "Shadhin Bangla Football Team: The underappreciated heroes". The Business Standard. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জাদুঘরে স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল দলের জার্সি. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ স্বাধীন বাংলা ফুটবল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Shadhin Bangla Football Team". Plaantik.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
- ^ Preetha, Sushmita S. (23 March 2012). "They Call Me Freedom". Star Weekend Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2014.