Sheikh Kamal's 72nd birth anniversary being observed

The 72nd birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is being observed in a befitting manner Thursday. 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).

Different sports and socio-cultural organizations including the ruling Awami League have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day, maintaining the health protocols strictly.

Marking the day, AL and its associate bodies paid homage to Sheikh Kamal by placing floral wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Abahani Club at Dhanmondi at 9am.

Wreaths were laid at his grave at Banani Graveyard at 9:15am. Later, recitation of the Holy Quran, milad and doa mahfil were held.

Besides, Abahani Limited has also chalked out various programmes to observe the birth anniversary of its club founder Shaheed Sheikh Kamal.

The directors, officials and players of Abahani Club paid tribute to Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths at his portrait at the club premises at 12:01 am (early Thursday) and offered special prayer seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Kamal.

The programmes also include day-long recitation from the Holy Quran, a virtual discussion on the life and works of Sheikh Kamal at 4 pm and doa mahfil at the club Bhaban after the Asar prayers today maintaining social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After passing secondary examination from Shahin School and higher secondary exam from Dhaka College, Sheikh Kamal obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the Social Science Department of Dhaka University.

He was also a student of Setar musical department of Chayanat, a reputed cultural entity in the country.

Kamal was not only the founder of Abahani Krira Chakra, one of the best sports organizations in the subcontinent and pioneer of modern football in Bangladesh, he was also a founder-member of Dhaka Theatre.

He was well known as an actor in the Dhaka University’s drama arena.

Since his childhood, Kamal was very much enthusiastic about different sports including football, cricket, hockey and basket-ball.

Sheikh Kamal was commissioned in the Muktibahini after receiving training from 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 went to retirement from the army and paid attention to the study.

Kamal was a Master's (final year) examinee and a member of the Jatiya Chhatra League central committee, a wing of Bangladesh Krishak, Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL), when he embraced martyrdom on August 15 in 1975 at the age of 26.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged all leaders and activists of the ruling party and its associate bodies to observe the day in a befitting manner strictly following the Covid-19 health guidelines.