Munir Hossain

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Munir Hossain
Munir pictured post-retirment
Full name Munir Hossain
Born 1934
Dhaka, British India
Died (aged 84)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Domestic
Years League Role
1960–1983 Dhaka Football League Referee
International
Years League Role
1974–1983 FIFA listed Referee

Munir Alam (Bengali: মুনীর হোসেন; 1934 – 10 May 2018) was a Bangladeshi former football player and FIFA referee.

Early life

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Munir Alam was born in Dhaka, British India in 1934.[1]

Playing career

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In 1954, Munir began his football career in the Second Division of Dhaka, with Kamalapur Pragati Sangha, playing as a right-inside. From 1955 to 1958, he represented Signal Wings in the First Division. In 1959, he joined Fire Service AC, and in the same season an injury ended his playing career.[2][3]

Refereeing career

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Munir was inspired to take up refereeing by veteran referee Masudur Rahman, who was then the general secretary of Brothers Union. He passed the level-3 referee examinations in 1960, earned level-2 recognition in 1963, and in 1968 placed first in the level-1 referees’ exam held across Pakistan. Munir went on to officiate in the Dhaka First Division Football League, the lower tiers of Dhaka football, and the National Football Championship. After the Independence of Bangladesh, he became one of the first four referees from the country to receive a FIFA Badge in 1974. He later refereed at the 1975 AFC Youth Championship, the 1976 King's Cup, the finals of the 1976 and 1977 Aga Khan Gold Cup, and the final of the 1982 President's Gold Cup, which was his last international assignment.[1][3][4]

1982 Dhaka derby incident

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On 21 September 1982, Munir refereed the Dhaka derby First Division League match between Dhaka Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Dhaka Stadium. Following the game, six Abahani players were arrested for inciting crowd violence after the referee denied them a goal and were, unexpectedly, tried for plotting to overthrow the martial law government under Lt. General Hussain Muhammad Ershad.[5]

Post-retirment

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Munir was involved with the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation in various capacities over a period of 26 years. He became the federation's general secretary in 1988 and served in that role during different terms until 2004. He was also the technical committee chairman of the Asian Kabaddi Federation from 1988 to 2004.[6]

Death

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Munir died after a prolonged illness in Dhaka, on 10 May 2018, at the age of 84. He was laid to rest at the Gopibagh Graveyard in Dhaka.[7][8][9][10]

A day-long football tournament in his honor was organized by the Bangladesh Football Federation Referees Association on 18 March 2021.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Munir Hossain no more". The Daily Star. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. ^ "বাংলাদেশের প্রথম ফিফা রেফারি মুনীর আর নেই". Daily Janakantha. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b "বাংলাদেশের প্রথম ফিফা রেফারি মনির হোসেন মারা গেছেন" [Bangladesh's first FIFA referee, Monir Hossain, passes away]. Prothomalo (in Bengali). 10 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ^ "চলে গেলেন ফিফা রেফারি মুনীর হোসেন" [FIFA referee Munir Hossain passes away]. Jugantor (in Bengali). 10 May 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  5. ^ ফুটবলের 'ব্ল্যাক সেপ্টেম্বর' [Football's 'Black September']. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  6. ^ "FIFA referee Munir Hossain passes away". The Daily Star. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Country's first FIFA referee Monir Hossain passes away". The Financial Express. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  8. ^ "চলে গেলেন ফুটবল ও কাবাডি রেফারিদের অভিভাবক মুনির হোসেন" [Munir Hossain, guardian of football and kabaddi referees, passes away]. Jago News24 (in Bengali). 10 May 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Country's first FIFA referee Monir Hossain no moredate". Daily Sun. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Ex-FIFA referee Munir dies". New Age. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  11. ^ "প্রয়াত দুই রেফারির নামে ফুটবল টুর্নামেন্ট" [Football tournament named after two late referees]. Jago News24 (in Bengali). 17 March 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
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