Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) arranged a day long program including Quran Khani, reminiscence meeting and Doa Mahfil for their former general secretary, also a former cricketer- cum-coach Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury at the BSJA office at the Bangabandhu National Stadium premises  Saturday afternoon. Cricket personality Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury, author of many books, passed away on September 21 aged 74 at a city hospital after suffering from lung infection and respiratory problems.   BCB Director Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, former captain of national cricket team Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, former general secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation Capt (Retd) Syed Sujauddin Ahmed, Poet Sanaul Haque Khan, former BSJA president Manjurul Haque, Deputy Editor of Kaler Kantho Mostafa Mamun, Sports Editor of Dainik Sangbad Kashinath Basak recalled their sweet memories with Jalal at the meeting, conducted by BSJA President ATM Sayeeduzzaman.    BCB Director Bobby advised the BSJA to collect all the write-ups, stories and articles of Jalal Ahmed Chowhury and to publish an anthology for the future generations.

Veteran cricket coach, journalist and author Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury breathed his last on Tuesday at a Dhaka hospital. He was 74. His demise cast a pall of gloom over the country’s sports arena and among cricket players, writers and commentators in particular. The cricket fraternity said a tearful farewell to him. Jalal had been suffering from lung infection and respiratory problems. He was admitted to the hospital in early September. After feeling slightly better he returned home, but on the night of September 14, he was brought to the hospital again and admitted to the ICU. Since his condition kept deteriorating over time, he was put in ventilation. After more than a couple of days in ventilation, Jalal breathed his last on Tuesday morning. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed profound sadness on his death addressing him as “former National Team coach”, “cricket analyst”, “cricketer” and “eminent sportswriter”. During the mid-1960s, Jalal started his cricket career in the Dhaka League as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper for the Udity Club. He later played for the Young Pegasus, Town Club and Dhanmondi Club and represented Bangladesh Railway in the National Championship competition. He was a member of the first Bangladesh side in post-independence Bangladesh (Tour of MCC in 1977). “It’s difficult to say goodbye to whom you started your cricketing life with,” Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s former captain said on his social media handle. “Your calmness in the dressing room, your orders to do something, playing under your coaching— everything is now just memory. Who saw your contribution to Bangladesh cricket, will remember you forever. May Allah grants you Jannah,” he added. Bangladesh’s Test captain Mominul Haque also paid homage to his “favourite coach”, and asked to pray for his place in heaven. Many senior and young sports journalists also paid homage to the deceased. Arifur Rahman Babu, a veteran journalist, said that Jalal Ahmed was “a great source of inspiration” for the sportswriters in Bangladesh. “He was a father figure for all of us, he was a guardian, he was an advisor, a well-wisher. I was so close to him. We will obviously miss him forever,” Arifur, who is a special correspondent at JagoNews24, wrote on his social media handle. Ariful Islam Roney, another journalist, addressed Jalal Ahmed as ambidextrous. He wrote on his social media handle: “Jalal bhai was ambidextrous. He played many roles in his life. But to me, he had always been a true cricket-lover.” Among his many roles, Jalal Ahmed was a general secretary of the Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association (BSJA). He was the chief election commissioner in the last election of BSJA. Jalal received his diploma in cricket coaching from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, India in 1979 and subsequently coached prominent Dhaka League teams Abahani, Mohammedan, Victoria, Shadharan Bima, Azad Sporting, PWD, Dhanmondi Club and Kalabagan. In his distinguished coaching career, Jalal had been associated with the Bangladesh national cricket team on a number of occasions. He was one of the coaches of the Bangladesh 1979 and 1997 ICC Trophy squads. He was the head coach of Bangladesh in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2002. Jalal was one of the rare journalists in Bangladesh, who was fluent both in Bangla and English writing. He worked at the New Nation newspaper for more than a decade. He wrote for almost all main national Bangla dailies published from Dhaka. He had also served the BCB as a member of its different standing committees which include Game Development, Cricket Operations and the Umpires Committee. Minister of the Ministry of Youth & Sports - Bangladesh, Zahid Ahsan Russel, also paid homage to Jalal Ahmed. In his condolence message, Zahid Ahsan said: “The death of Jalal Ahmed came as an irreplaceable damage for Bangladesh's sports arena.”

Veteran cricket coach and journalist Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday morning. He was 67. Jalal had been suffering from lung infection and respiratory problems. On Friday, Jalal was put on a ventilator after his condition worsened at Anwar Khan Modern Hospital, where had been admitted since September 14. Read: Bangladesh’s celebrated umpire Nadir Shah dies at 57 He died this morning, general secretary of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh Debabrata Paul told UNB. Jalal was first admitted to the hospital in early September. He returned home after undergoing treatment for some days. But on September 14, he complained of discomfort and breathing difficulties, and was rushed to the hospital again. Read:Veteran filmmaker Shafiqur Rahman passes away Jalal was a domestic cricketer during the 70s and 80s. He played for several clubs. As a coach, he inspired many youngsters to take up cricket as a career. He wrote for many Bengali and English publications.

Nadir Shah, one of Bangladesh’s most famous umpires, passed away on Friday morning at a hospital in Dhaka. He was 57.  Nadir Shah had been suffering from lung cancer for the last two years. Before being one of the most successful Bangladeshi umpires who was also listed as an ICC umpire, Nadir played cricket for two decades at the domestic level. He represented big Dhaka clubs like Abahani, Mohammedan and Biman. Read:ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021: A new challenge for Shamim Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed deep shock at his death. Former and current Bangladeshi cricketers also took on their social media handles to offer homage to the deceased. “Cricket has lost a passionate cricketer, umpire, and lover of the game. I had the privilege to know and play with him for many years. No matter what challenge came his way, he always took it on with courage and a smile. Nadir bhai, you will live on in our hearts and minds forever,” Aminul Islam Bulbul, Bangladesh’s first Test captain, wrote on his social media profile.  “Nadir bhai used to wear a folded-half-sleeve shirt. We will surely miss this style of him. Every cheering moment I have passed with you is now just a memory,” Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s former captain," he wrote on his social media profile as well.  Jalal Chowdhury, a coach and cricket analyst, also offered respect to the deceased. Jalal Yunus, one of Nadir Shah’s longtime friends and colleagues and a BCB director, took to Twitter to offer homage. Jalal described Nadir as a kind-hearted guy and a great cricket lover.  I have lost one of my cricket colleague today. Played together in Dhanmondi and Abahani club.Nadir Shah,Former player,International Umpire and of all a great cricket lover and a kind hearted guy.May Allah grant him Jannatul Ferdous. pic.twitter.com/t0RskfFG5U— Mohammed Jalal Yunus (@JalalYunusCric) September 10, 2021 A leg-spinner and handy batsman in his playing days, Nadir Shah appeared for two decades for a host of famous clubs in the Dhaka League including Abahani, Mohammedan, Biman, Brothers Union, Surjo Tarun, Kalabagan, Azad Boys and Dhanmondi, a BCB statement reads.  In March 2006, Nadir stood as an umpire in an international match between Bangladesh and Kenya for the first time and went on to officiate in 40 ODIs, three T20 Internationals and three Women’s ODIs.  Read:Bangladesh announces 15-member squad for T20 World Cup He was a TV Umpire in six Tests and 23 ODIs as well. He had also officiated in 73 first-class matches, 127 List A and 54 (five as TV Umpire) T20 games.  “Nadir Shah was a most affable person who was loved and respected by all in the cricket fraternity. He will be missed. He lived for cricket and had always executed his responsibility as an umpire with fairness. We pray for the salvation of his soul,” as Nizamuddin Chowdhury, BCB CEO quoted in the BCB statement.