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Ten-year-old Mobinar Rahman was watching the live telecast of the national football league's semi-final match between the Mohammedans and Brothers Union. His father Mahbubur Rahman is one of the three referees in the match, reports BDNEWS.
It was only one minute to go for the final whistle. Mobinar burst into tears. His mother, who had just gone to another room, rushed and was stunned watching that a giant man kicking and punching her husband inhumanly.
Some people tried to rescue Mahbubur Rahman. But the 'body language' of the rescuers seemed that they are also afraid of the attacker. Thousands of people watched the inhuman behaviour of the Brothers football committee secretary Sabbir Ahmed Arif through live telecast of the BTV.
Mobinar, a student of class three of a school in Gazipur, got shocked watching the incident. "My son was traumatised watching me being manhandled," said assistant referee Mahbubur.
"After the incident, I got admitted in the BSMMU with severe injuries. From the hospital bed, I phoned my wife and tried to ease her tension. I told her that this is a common phenomenon in football match. Don't worry. But I could not make my son understand about the incident," he added.
Mahbubur Rahman, a contractor in profession, recently came to the National Sports Council to join the annual general meeting of the football referees.
During the lunch break, Mahbubur narrated to the agency the sorrows and joys of the referees.
"Convenor of referee committee Monirul Islan, instructed us not to talk with the journalists," said Ibrahim Nesar, general secretary of Referees Samity.
Monirul, however, denied the allegation. "I requested the referees to inform me before talking with the journalists as sometimes the newsmen write negative news," Monirul said.
Mahbubur Rahman spent a long time and discussed on the social status of the referees in the country, professional referring and interference by the club officials during matches.
The authorities put a five-year ban on Brothers' Union football committee secretary Sabbir Ahmed Arif from entering into the football ground for his criminal act.
Moreover, the club also sacked him from his post.
"They are very powerful people. He might be able to reduce his punishment enjoying patronisation by some quarters," another referee said wishing anonymity.
He also said that they have no social status. The club officials used to hurl abusive words when they conduct the matches neutrally. Some club officials also threatened over phone and called them to conduct the matches in their favour.
"You must watch the incident of attack on Mahbubur Rahman. How the club official kicked and punched him brutally in front of police and authorities? But none dared to stop the attacker as the club officials hold power. I think the incident damaged the social status of Mahbubur Rahman. Thousands of people watched the incident," he added.
Talking to the agency advocate Dilruba Sharmin opined that the suspension is not enough for such crime. The authorities should take legal action against the attackers.
"Everybody, responsible for criminal act, should face trial. As it was a criminal act, the authorities should take legal action against the accused, otherwise, the incident would continue to go on," Dilruba said.
In the context of Bangladesh, a star footballer used to get over Tk 10 lakh in a football season. But the honorarium of a referee is very poor.
Meanwhile, Mahbubur Rahman emphasised on introducing the professional referring system in the country. "As we get a small amount of honorarium, all of us are engaged in other jobs or business," he added.
When asked about the amount he draws per month as a referee, he said, "I am felling embarrassed as the honorarium is very poor," Mahbubur blushed without mentioning the amount.
"When we go abroad, we feel embarrassed when the foreign referees wanted to know about our honorarium," he added.
"There is a gulf of difference between the honorarium of foreign referees and us," he added.
"I am involved with the football for a long time as it is my part of my soul. Mainly, I am a contractor," Mahbubur Rahman said.
"I could not say the football 'goodbye' as the football is the part of my soul despite my financial loss. I have to spend plenty of time for the matches," he added.
Referees Committee convenor Monirul Islam said that at present the referees were divided into five grades in Bangladesh: Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, National and FIFA.
The lowest hohourarium of a referee is Tk 500 while the highest is Tk 1000 per match.
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