C T Online Desk: The 75th birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be observed today in a befitting manner.
On this occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the memory of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal.
In separate messages on the eve of the anniversary, the president and the prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Sheikh Kamal, who was a shining star in the country’s sports and cultural arenas.
Born on 5 August 1949 at Tungipara in Gopalganj, Sheikh Kamal was a former executive member of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Ruling Awami League, different sports and socio-cultural organisations, including popular club Abahani Limited and
Abahani Samarthak Goshti, have taken elaborate programmes to observe the birth anniversary.
Awami League and its associate bodies will place floral wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Dhanmondi Abahani Club at 7am. Later, qurankhwani, milad and doa mahfil will be held.
Abahani Club will place floral wreaths at his portrait on the club premises in the early hours of Monday.
A memorial meeting on the life and works of Sheikh Kamal will be held in the afternoon on the club premises and a special prayer will be offered seeking eternal peace for the departed soul.
Sheikh Kamal passed his secondary examination from Shahin School and higher secondary exam from Dhaka College. He obtained Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in sociology from Dhaka University.
He was also a student of Setar musical department of Chhayanaut, a reputed cultural entity in the country.
Kamal was not only the founder of Abahani Krira Chakra, one of the best sports organisations in the subcontinent and pioneer of modern football in Bangladesh, but 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 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 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 15 August 1975 at the age of 26.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged leaders and activists of Awami League and its front organisations to observe the birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal in a befitting manner.
