DHAKA: Former captain of national hockey team of Bangladesh Shabbir Yusuf passed away in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at 3:20am Wednesday (local time). He was 67.

His body will be brought back to country by airplane on Friday night and will be buried at Faridpur after the second Janaza.

Shabbir Yusuf was given national award for his contribution in sports. He also was the vice president of Bangladesh Hocky Federation and an official of Abahani Krira Chakra.

He was from a well to do family and was very polite and humble person and served as social worker also.

He represented East Pakistan Hockey with great commitment and excellent skills. 

After Independence, he not only played with pride but pioneered the growth of hockey of Bangladesh. 

He along with Abdus Sadeq and Ibrahim Sabir were three Musketeers of Bangladesh hockey.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, former minister Kamal Ibn Yusuf and many other noted persons have expressed their sorrows in the death and consoled the grief stricken family.

BDST: 2152 HRS, JUL 04, 2014