Bangladesh women’s national team defender Shiuli Azim was unable to attend her mother’s funeral after receiving news of her death while in Goa, India, ahead of the SAFF Women’s Championship semi-final against Nepal. The development occurred in the early hours of the day preceding the match, leaving the player with no feasible option to return home in time.
According to team sources, the news reached the squad at approximately 5:00 a.m. Shiuli’s mother, Basana Azim, died at the age of 45 due to complications related to kidney illness. The sudden bereavement affected the entire Bangladesh camp, leading to the immediate cancellation of a training session that had been scheduled for 7:00 a.m. No further training activities were conducted for the remainder of the day.
Later in the afternoon, members of the squad visited the nearby seaside, with Shiuli also accompanying her teammates. The decision followed a day marked by disruption to the team’s routine after the early morning announcement.
Bangladesh team manager Khalid Mahmood stated that immediate efforts were made to arrange Shiuli’s return to Bangladesh upon receiving the news. However, logistical constraints, particularly flight availability from Goa and the overall travel duration, made it impractical. Based on travel estimates, Shiuli would not have been able to reach Dhaka before 12:00 p.m. the following day. From Dhaka, an additional journey of approximately three to four hours would have been required to reach her home village of Kolsindur in Dhobaura, Mymensingh.
Mahmood explained that, given these time constraints, it was not possible to delay the funeral proceedings. As a result, Basana Azim’s funeral was conducted in Shiuli’s absence on the same day. A representative from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) was present in Kolsindur to support the family during the funeral. Shiuli is one of four siblings, with three brothers and one sister.
Prior to this incident, Shiuli had already been managing a physical issue during the tournament. She missed Bangladesh’s opening match against the Maldives due to chest pain. In the subsequent match against India, she appeared as a substitute.
Shiuli Azim hails from Kolsindur, a remote area in Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh district, which has produced several women footballers who have progressed to the national level and contributed to Bangladesh’s achievements in the sport. Basana Azim had played a significant role in supporting her daughter’s football career despite various challenges.
The key details of the incident are summarised below:
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Shiuli Azim |
| Team | Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team |
| Location during incident | Goa, India |
| Competition | SAFF Women’s Championship |
| Deceased | Basana Azim (mother) |
| Age at death | 45 |
| Cause of death | Kidney-related complications |
| Time of news received | 5:00 a.m. |
| Training status | Cancelled for the day |
| Travel outcome | Return not possible due to time constraints |
| Funeral | Conducted without Shiuli |
| Home village | Kolsindur, Dhobaura, Mymensingh |
| Family members | Three brothers and one sister |
This sequence of events reflects the logistical limitations faced by international athletes during overseas competitions, particularly when unexpected personal circumstances arise.
