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 the 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 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.
