By Meer Raihan Masud
This is a very common joke among the regular visitors of the football matches in Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. But who is Ata Pagla? What is the story behind the humor?
It was the most tumultuous time in the world as it was witnessing the last days of the horrible second World War, the most catastrophic event of the last century. During that bloodbath, the story of life was not halted and at Tikatuli, an erstwhile elite area of Dhaka, a tiny little boy was born. No, he did not become a significant figure in the country’s political history but he has been a close observer of the phenomena that we may call ‘the rise and fall of Dhaka’s football’.
“THE REFEREE MAY MISS THE GAME BUT ATA PAGLA WON’T MISS A SINGLE FOOTBALL MATCH AT THE BANGABANDHU STADIUM.”
His real name has been lost to oblivion and he is simply known as ‘Ata Pagla’ or ‘Mohammedan’s Ata’ for his lifelong devotion to Mohammedan Sporting Club.
The first thing one may notice facing him is his affinity with English, as he speaks the language more than his mother tongue Bangla. He finished his university studies in the 60s but he was more interested in bodybuilding. That interest helped him to play as a striker in a local club. He was mesmerized by the beautiful game and to be precise with the MSC – one of the oldest clubs in the region.
He first watched a Mohammedan game back in 1962 at the age of 17 at the Bangabandhu Stadium (at the time, Dhaka Stadium) and fell in love at first sight, and it became a timeless tale.
Ata claims that he has never missed a single MSC game ever since. Severe illnesses such as jaundice and a hernia were not enough to stop him from savoring the experience of a match at the stadium.
During his youth, he took a job for his livelihood but his mind remained on the pitch. He often faked sickness to take time off for a game. Eventually, he left his job and remained unemployed ever since.
For many years, Ata spent most of the daytime in the vicinity of the stadium and took shelter at night to sleep at his mother’s abode, where no facility of cooking is available.
His life, his family is in and around the stadium. He is everyone’s favorite Ata Vai. The gallery of Bangabandhu near the Baitul Mokarrum has become more than his own home. The golden era of the stadium full of spectators is long gone and these days, only police, journalists and crows seem to be the only regular attendees in the stadium.
However, Ata seems to defy it by not only with his sheer presence but with his continuous chanting during all 90 minutes, as if he is attempting to do the job of a thousand cheerleaders.
His enthusiasm transcended beyond the stadium. He still maintains his zeal for life despite his age.
Ata was also very openly passionate about the game. He would utter profanities from the press box whenever he did not agree with the referee’s verdict. Witnesses could see his eyes pop out of their sockets at some points.
“See, what a poor decision, he is not a referee at all,” was his most polite reaction among a barrage of unutterable slangs.
Ata is so passionate that he has become a one-man-army, he often hoists the flag even at an empty stadium to encourage players.
But it is the decline of country’s football that hurts this aged man most. Sometimes, when he eavesdrops at the gallery, he hears thousands of spectators roaring for their favorite team.
Ata vai still hopes those golden days shall return. Even though he has seen it all in his life, he envisages an impossible dream, the Renaissance of Bangladesh football.
