From Vigilant Goalkeeper to Sports Minister Aminul

Once the unwavering guardian of the football goalpost, Aminul Haque has now assumed the nation’s highest sporting administrative role. After long speculation and navigating political challenges, the former national team captain has been appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports under the technocrat quota. In Bangladesh, the transition from the playing field to the ministerial office is not unprecedented; predecessors such as Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Arif Khan Joy also traded boots for portfolios.

A native of Bhola, Aminul grew up in Dhaka’s Mirpur district, nurtured under the guidance of his elder brother, Moinul Haque, who first introduced him to football. As a young teenager, handing his first earned 150 taka to his mother instilled in him a sense of purpose—he was destined for greater heights. Beginning with MSPC City Club in the Pioneer League, coaches quickly recognised his prodigious talent. Remarkably, Aminul conceded no goals in his first nine matches of the league.

Offered a place at Dhaka’s East End Club, he ultimately joined Mohammedan Sporting Club with assistance from his brother and defender Imtiaz Sultan Jony, initially serving as the third-choice goalkeeper behind the experienced Chahid Hasan Kanon. In 1996, Aminul moved to Farashganj SC, becoming first-choice under coach Pran Gobinda Kundu and helping the team avoid relegation in his debut Premier League season. Early in his career, he earned incentives for his performances against top sides, drawing motivation from such recognition.

Club Career Highlights

Aminul debuted internationally in 1998 against Qatar and played until 2011, rarely missing matches due to injury. His defining moment came in the 2003 SAFF Championship final against the Maldives, saving a decisive penalty in a shootout to secure Bangladesh’s first SAFF title, earning him national hero status. The 2010 South Asian Games saw him lead the U-23 team to gold without conceding a single goal throughout the tournament.

International Milestones

Aminul’s career was also marked by high-profile club disputes in Dhaka, including a dramatic 12-day episode in 2003 when he was reportedly held by one club before escaping to rejoin Muktijoddha Sangsad KC.

Post-retirement, he joined the political arena as a dedicated member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), enduring harassment and imprisonment under the previous government. Despite narrowly losing the Dhaka-16 seat in the 13th parliamentary elections, his sporting excellence and political dedication earned him the position of State Minister for Youth and Sports in the current administration.

Just as no ball crossed his goal line on the pitch, sports enthusiasts now expect Aminul to safeguard Bangladesh’s sporting integrity with equal vigilance.