Sheikh Kamal’s birthday today

Desk Report: Today (August 5) is the 67th birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal, a glittering star in sports arena during the post-independence period and the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Born on August 5, 1949 at Tungipara in Gopalganj, Sheikh Kamal, a former executive member of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League, was an executive member of Jatiya Chhatra League, the student wing of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BKSAL).

He took training on war course and obtained commission before joining the War of Liberation in 1971. He was the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Armed Forces General Ataul Gani Osmani during the War of Liberation.

Sheikh Kamal passed secondary school certificate (SSC) examination from Shahin School, Dhaka and HSC from Dhaka College and later got admission into Dhaka University in the Department of Sociology.
One of the pioneers of modern football in Bangladesh, Sheikh Kamal used to play cricket in first division for Azad Boys Club and basketball too in first division for Spurs Club.

He was also founder-member of Dhaka Theatre and Spondon Shilpa Gosthi, a musical band of folk songs.

Along with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members, Sheikh Kamal, the founder of the country`s leading sporting club Abahani Krira Chakra, was assassinated by a group of derailed military officers under a well-orchestrated plot on August 15 in 1975. Aged 26, he was then a final-year Master`s Degree examinee.

Different political, sociocultural and sports organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to mark the day in the capital and elsewhere of the country.

The programmes include: placing wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Kamal and reciting from the Holy Quran, milad mahfil and offering doa at Banani graveyard.

The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies paid tributes to Shaheed Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths at his portrait on Dhanmondi Abahani Club premises and later his grave in the Banani Graveyard.

A doa mahfil will be held there seeking eternal peace of his departed soul and other family members including the Father of the Nation.

Awami Swechchasebok League, Jubo League and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote also have taken various programmes to observe the day.

Awami Swechchasebok League (ASL) will place wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Kamal on Abahani Club premises in the city at 8.30am.

Risingbd/DHAKA/Aug 5, 2016/Mukul