Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury

Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury , better known as Nazir Junior or Choto Nazir, is a retired Bangladeshi footballer who played as a center-back. He is a member of the first Bangladesh national football team.

Early life Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury was born in Sunamganj, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). Alongside football he was also involved with athletics, he was the divisional champion in 400 meters race. In 1964, Nazir started playing football with Sunamganj Brothers and his school team. In the same year, the Sunamganj Government School won the title in inter-departmental games, and Nazir was called up to the Sunamganj divisional team, however, he played for them the following year as he was still a student at the time. In 1965, Nazir won the Sunamganj First Division title, earning him a chance to join East Pakistan Railway in the Dhaka First Division League.

Club career In Nazir's debut season in the First Division, East Pakistan Railway were relegated to the Second Division. The following season, he joined Central Stationary in the First Division, however, his team were once again relegated. In 1968, Nazir remained in the top-tier with EPG Press. In 1970, Nazir found a long-term address, in EPIDC. With the Jutemen, Nazir became league champions in both 1970 and 1973, the latter being the first complete domestic football season after the Independence of Bangladesh. Following BJMC's (formerly EPIDC) title triumph in 1973, Nazir was named the Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer. Although Sheikh Kamal attempted to bring him to Abahani Krira Chakra, Nazir remained loyal to BJMC, and eventually retired in 1979, while playing for Sadharan Bima CSC. In the same year, he participated in the Bordoloi Trophy with the team. The following year, he was called up to the first Bangladesh national football team by head coach Sheikh Shaheb Ali. With the national team, he participated in the 1973 and 1975 editions of Malaysia's Medeka Cup. On 27 July 1973, he made his international debut in the Merdeka Cup against Thailand, in what was Bangladesh's maiden international match. In the latter stages of 1973, he sustained a serious injury while playing for Dhaka XI against the visiting Dinamo Minsk from the Soviet Union.

Nickname Nazir earned the nickname Choto Nazir, which translates to "Small Nazir" in Bengali, due to his much senior former teammate and Team BJMC striker Nazir Ahmed Senior or Boro Nazir, the latter translates to "Big Nazir" in Bengali.

Honours Team BJMC Dhaka First Division League: 1970, 1973 Independence Cup: 1975

East Pakistan King Mahendra Cup: 1970

Awards and accolades 1973 − Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award