Rajia Sultana, a member of U-18 SAFF women championship winning football team, died from excessive bleeding during childbirth at her ancestral home in a Sathkhira village in the early hours of Thursday.

Before her death, Rajia gave birth to a boy, according to the deceased’s husband Imam Rahman.

Golam Rabbani Choton, a former coach of the national women’s football team, has mourned the untimely demise of Rajia. “I feel very bad. Rajia was a very good person. She also played superbly. I am expressing my grief for her demise. I pray that the Almighty grant her departed soul entry into heaven, and give her family the strength to live through these sorrowful moments,” Choton said.

Born in January 2001, Rajia was the best player in her school.

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque