Zakaria Pintoo, freedom fighter and captain of the Shadhin Bangla football team, passed away due to complications from heart disease in a city hospital this morning.
 
The National Sports Award winner Pintoo breathed his last around 11:45am at the age of 81.
 
He left behind one son, three daughters, relatives, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.
 
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president, Tabith Awal, its senior vice president, vice presidents, executive members, general secretary, officials, and employees expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Pintoo and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Pintoo was born Naogaon on January 1, 1943. He represented both the Pakistan national football team and the East Pakistan football team, captaining the latter one on numerous occasions.

In club football, Pintoo represented Mohammedan, one of the most popular clubs in Bangladesh, for a continuous period of 14 years.

In recognition for his contribution to the country's football, he was accorded the Independence Award in 1995 and the National Sports Award in 1978.