Bagerhat, Nov 28 (V7N) – The football community in Morelganj was struck with grief as young footballer Masum Billah, 19, succumbed to injuries on Thursday after days of critical care in Dhaka. The first funeral prayer took place on Friday morning at the Abdul Aziz Memorial Secondary School field, where teammates, classmates, political leaders, and people from various walks of life broke down in tears while recalling his legacy.

Masum Billah, son of Maharaj Sheikh of Baroikhali Ward No. 1 in Morelganj municipality, was a first-year honours student at Siraj Uddin Memorial Government College. Known as a skilled and dedicated footballer, he had earned several awards while representing different districts and upazilas. His sudden death has cast a shadow of sorrow across the entire region, with fans lamenting the loss of a promising athlete.

Masum suffered a severe spinal cord injury on November 20 while participating in a 16-team football tournament in Bagerhat. He was initially admitted to Khulna City Medical College Hospital, but as his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After days in intensive care, he passed away at 1 p.m. on Thursday (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un). His body was brought home to Morelganj at 11 p.m., where crowds gathered throughout the night to pay their final respects.

Beginning his football journey at age 12, Masum quickly became a well-regarded player and was associated with Mizan Khan Academy. Coming from a financially struggling family, he was the only son of his day-labourer father, leaving behind his parents and one sister.

The first funeral prayer on Friday was attended by political leaders, including Bagerhat-4 nomination seekers Kazi Khairuzzaman Shipon and Dr. Kazi Moniruzzaman Monir, Upazila Project Implementation Officer Abdullah Al Zabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Upazila Naib-e-Ameer Master Moniruzzaman, BNP leader Abdul Majid Jabbar, Municipal BNP General Secretary Asaduzzaman Milon, and BNP leader Principal Jahangir Al Azad, among numerous social and cultural representatives.

A second funeral prayer was held at Ambika Charan Laha Pilot High School field, followed by his burial at the family graveyard.

END/MPS/SMA/