Eternal Rest for the Last Hero of the ‘Telegram Era’: Ranjit Das’s Journey Beyond the Field

The dawn of yesterday broke with a sombre hue over Bangladesh’s sporting fraternity. Barely had the nation begun to come to terms with the loss of Mustafa Kamal, the football and volleyball stalwart, when another blow struck. On the quiet slopes of a remote Sylhet hill, Ranjit Das, the legendary goalkeeper often hailed as the last hero of the ‘telegram era’, passed away at the age of 93. He drew his final breath at 6:55 am yesterday morning at a local hospital, leaving behind a legacy etched deeply into the nation’s sporting memory.

Ranjit Das’s departure marks the end of an era. The man who had lit up Dhaka’s football and hockey fields in the 1950s spent his final years in profound silence, having lost much of his memory and the ability to speak. Once, his home in Kor Para, Sylhet, was a hub of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the sporting icon. In recent years, however, he remained quietly withdrawn, a stark contrast to the energetic player of his youth.

Das began his football journey with Ispahani Club in 1955 and soon rose to prominence with Azad Sporting Club. Under his captaincy, Azad Sporting clinched the league title in 1958, a golden moment in the club’s history. His prowess also took him beyond Bangladesh: in 1957, he represented Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan in the prestigious All India Durand Cup, leaving spectators in awe.

Beyond football, Das was a multi-talented athlete. Born on 29 October 1932, he also excelled in hockey, captaining the East Pakistan hockey team in the 1960s. He coached Azad Sporting’s football team for several years, nurturing the next generation of athletes. Yet, he carried a lifelong regret — his slightly shorter stature had denied him a place in the Pakistan national football team, a disappointment he once candidly admitted to reporters.

Recognition eventually came. In 2006, he received the First Alok Sports Lifetime Achievement Award, followed by the National Sports Award the next year, accolades many argued were long overdue. In his final years, Das found solace in the company of his wife, Rekha Das, quietly reflecting on a life that had inspired countless young sports enthusiasts.

The passing of Ranjit Das follows the loss of other sporting giants such as Zakaria Pintu in 2024 and Zahidul Haque before him. The hills of Sylhet now fall silent, no longer echoing with tales of football and hockey. Yet his heroics remain immortal, inscribed in golden letters in the annals of Bangladesh’s sporting history.

Ranjit Das: Key Sporting Milestones

Ranjit Das may have left the physical field, but the legends he created will continue to inspire generations of athletes in Bangladesh, reminding the nation of the golden era of football and hockey.