The Shadhin Bangla football team (Bengali : à ¦¸à §Âà ¦¬à ¦¾à ¦§à §Âà ¦¨ à ¦¬à ¦¾à ¦Âà ¦²à ¦¾ à ¦«à §Âà ¦Âà ¦¬à ¦² à ¦¦à ¦²; lit. Independent Bengal football team) was formed by Bangladesh Krira Samity of the Bangladeshi government in exile shortly after the start of liberation war in 1971. This is the first instance of a Bangladesh national football team in any form. The team toured throughout India playing a total of 16 friendly matches to raise international awareness and economic support for the liberation war.
The Shadhin Bangla football team captain Zakaria Pintoo, was the first person to hoist the Bangladesh flag outside the territorial Bangladesh. By the end of the 16th match the team had contributed Tk 5 lac to Muktijuddho Fund in 1971.