The 72nd birth anniversary of Sheikh
Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, was observed amid different programmes today.
Born on August 5, 1949 at Tungipara in Gopalganj, Sheikh Kamal was a
former executive member of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra
League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League (AL).
Marking the anniversary, Awami League General Secretary and Road
Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today paid homage to
Shaheed Sheikh Kamal by placing a wreath on his grave at Banani
graveyard here on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Later, Quader along with the party’s central leaders laid another
wreath on behalf of AL in the morning.
AL Presidium Members Dr Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Jahangir Kabir
Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary and Information and
Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretaries
Mahbubul-Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary
Ahmed Hossain, Mirza Azam and SM Kamal Hossain, Science and Technology
Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua
and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present on the occasion,
among others.
Besides, Dhaka City AL north and south units, Mahila Awami League,
Jubo Mahila League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Jubo League, Sramik
League, Krishak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangabandhu
Sangskritik Jote and different cultural bodies paid homage to Sheikh
Kamal on his birth anniversary.
Later, Quran khawani, milad and doa mahfil were arranged at the
Banani graveyard mosque.
Earlier, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader along with party’s
central leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Kamal at
Dhanmondi Abahani Club here.
Marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal, the Ministry of
Youth and Sports for the first time today gave Sheikh Kamal National
Sports Council Award to 10 persons including sportsmen, journalist,
organisers and two organisations in seven categories for outstanding
contribution to the sports arena.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually joined the award-giving
ceremony as the chief guest at Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Auditorium in
National Sports Council (NSC) Tower from her official Ganabhaban
residence here and handed over the award.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Senior Secretary of the Youth and
Sports Ministry Md. Akhter Hossain handed over the award to the
recipients.
The premier also unveiled a memorial book titled “Forever Youth:
Unique Sheikh Kamal” in Bangla and English languages on the occasion.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP,
presided over the function while its Senior Secretary Md. Akhter
Hossain gave the welcome address. Zahid Ahsan Russel joined the
programme virtually from Tokyo.
A documentary on life and works of Sheikh Kamal was screened and
special munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of Sheikh Kamal’s
soul.
Dhaka City South unit of AL arranged a discussion at AL’s
Bangabandhu Avenue central office on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal’s
birth anniversary.
AL Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque
addressed it as the chief guest while AL Joint General Secretaries
Mahbubul-Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary
Mirza Azam spoke on the occasion, among others.
Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi chaired the discussion.
Sheikh Russel Jatiyo Shishu Kishore Parishad arranged a discussion
marking the birth anniversary. State Minister for Shipping Khalid
Mahmud Chowdhury and AL Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua
addressed it.
Sheikh Kamal completed his matriculation from Shaheen School, Dhaka
in 1967 and Higher Secondary Certificate Examination from Dhaka
College in 1969, according to wikipedia.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Sociology
Department at Dhaka University. He practiced sitar at Chhayanaut, a
school of music.
Since his boyhood, Kamal was very much enthusiastic about different
sports including football, cricket, hockey and basket-ball. He was the
founding president of Abahani Krira Chakra and a founding member of
Dhaka Theatre.
He was one of the pioneers of modern football in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Kamal was also active in student politics.
Sheikh Kamal was commissioned in the Mukti Bahini after receiving
training from the first war course in the independent Bangladesh and
served as ADC of General MAG Osmani, the commander-in-chief of the
Liberation War in 1971.
After the country’s independence, Sheikh Kamal retired from the army
and paid attention to study. Kamal served as a member of the Jatiya
Chhatra League central committee, a wing of Bangladesh Krishak, Sramik
Awami League (BAKSAL).
He was martyred on August 15, 1975 at the age of 26.bss