The 74th birth anniversary of valiant Freedom Fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was observed on Saturday in a befitting manner.
Different political parties, sports and socio-cultural organizations, including, the ruling Awami League, popular club Abahani Limited and Abahani 'Samarthak Goshti took elaborate programmes marking the day.
Awami League (AL) and its associate and front organizations paid homage to Sheikh Kamal by placing floral wreaths at his grave at Banani graveyard in the morning.
On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader paid tributes to Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths at his grave at 8.30am.
Later, Obaidul Quader along with senior leaders of the party laid wreaths at his grave on behalf of the party.
Party's Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Shajahan Khan, Abdur Rahman and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretaries-Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Afjal Hossain and Mirza Azam, Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present, among others.
After laying the wreaths, they observed a one-minute silence and doa was offered on the occasion seeking eternal peace of the departed soul.
Dhaka city south and North AL, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Krishak League and other front organizations paid tributes to Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths.
Earlier, AL and its associate bodies placed wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Dhanmondi Abahani Club at 8am.
Marking the birth anniversary, Youth and Sports Ministry organized Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council (NSC) Award-2023 distribution ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the morning.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the ceremony as the chief guest and handed over the Sheikh Kamal (NSC) Award-2023 to 10 sports personalities and two organizations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to sports.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel chaired the ceremony while Youth and Sports Secretary Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome address.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman also spoke reminiscing the life and activities of Sheikh Kamal.
AL's Dhaka City South unit organized a discussion and doa mahfil at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office at 11am.
Party's Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretary Mirza Azam and Dhaka City south AL vice-president Dilip Roy spoke, among others.
Dhaka city south AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi presided over the discussion which was moderated by its General Secretary Humayun Kabir.
Awami Swechchhasebak League arranged a discussion and photo exhibition at Kalabagan Krirachakra ground at 11am.
AL Presidium Member Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Swechchhasebak League Vice-President Debashish Biswas and Joint General Secretary Mobashwer Chowdhury spoke, among others.
Swechchhasebak League President Gazi Mesbahul Hossain Sachchu chaired the discussion while General Secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu moderated it.
Bangabandhu Parishad paid tributes to Sheikh Kamal by placing a wreath at his portrait at Abahani ground on Satmasjid Road in the city's Dhanmondi area.
Led by Acting President of Bangabandhu Parishad and Dhaka University former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique and General Secretary Professor ABM Faroque, central leaders of the organization placed wreaths.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and State Minister for Cultural Affairs also placed wreaths at Sheikh Kamal's grave.
Jubo League held milad and doa mahfils and distributed food among orphans and distressed people.
Born on August 5 in 1949 at Tungipara in Gopalganj, Sheikh Kamal was a former executive member of the central committee of the Chhatra League.
Sheikh Kamal passed his secondary examination from Shahin School and a higher secondary exam from Dhaka College.
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in sociology from Dhaka University. He was also a student of the 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 organizations 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 Dhaka University's drama arena.
Since his childhood, Kamal was very much enthusiastic about different sports including football, cricket, hockey and basketball.
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 August 15 in 1975 at the age of only 26.
