The 74th 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 Saturday in a befitting manner.
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.
Different sports and socio-cultural organizations, including the ruling AL, popular club Abahani Limited and Abahani 'Samarthak Goshti have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day.
AL and its associate and front organisations will place floral wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Dhanmondi Abahani Club at 8am. Later, wreaths will be laid at his grave at Banani graveyard at 9am.
AL's Dhaka City South unit will organize a discussion at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office here at 11am.
Jubo League will hold milad and doa mahfils and distribute foods among orphans and distressed people.
Awami Swechchhasebak League will arrange a discussion and photo-exhibition at 11am.
Sramik League's Dhaka city north and south units will hold discussion at 3pm.
Abahani Club will place floral wreaths at his portrait on the club premises in the early hours of Saturday (12.01am).
A memorial meeting on the life and works of Sheikh Kamal will be held at 5pm on the club premises and a special prayer will be offered seeking eternal peace for the departed soul.
Besides, Abahani 'Samarthak Goshti' will also chalk out different programs to observe the birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal.
Abahani 'Samarthak Goshti organizing secretary Debobrata Dey Debu said on behalf of Abahani 'Samarthak Goshti they would pay tributes to Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths at his portrait on the club premises in the early hours of Saturday.
He said wreaths will also be laid at his grave at Banani Graveyard in the morning.
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 August 15 in 1975 at the age of 26.
President, PM pay tributes
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday paid tributes to the memory of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal on the occasion of his 74th birth anniversary to be observed Saturday.
In separate messages on the eve of the anniversary, the president and 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.
The president said, "On the 74th birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter and Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation, I pay my deepest respect to his memory."
The head of the state welcomed the initiative taken by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to celebrate the day nationwide with due dignity.
He said that it is undoubtedly a commendable initiative to give the 'Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2023' to eminent sportspersons of the country for their successful contribution in the field of sports to commemorate and show respect to the accomplished sports organizer and talented sportsperson Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal.
"The heroic freedom fighter martyred Captain Sheikh Kamal is not with us today, but he has left behind his principles, ideals, methods and directions, which are undoubtedly the path we are on today," he added.
For establishing Abahani Krira Chakra, he will be forever remembered in the sports arena of Bangladesh, the president continued.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said assassins killed Bangabandhu's eldest son Sheikh Kamal at first on the black night of August 15, 1975 after storming Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi-32 number.
Though the group of assassins killed Sheikh Kamal physically, the path he showed, his principles and guidelines in reaching the country's sports arena at international level still remain as model to be followed, she said.
Sheikh Kamal still remains as a source of inspiration to the people and will remain in future, too, she mentioned.
"Today on his 74th birth anniversary, I am recalling him with profound love and affection," the premier said.
She said Sheikh Kamal was a shining star in the field of sports in independent Bangladesh.
Before the country's independence, Kamal founded Abahani Samajkalyan Sangstha and after returning from the Liberation War, he founded Abahani Krira Chakra, she said.
Apart from football, he also formed teams for hockey, cricket and table tennis under Abahani Krira Chakra, she said, adding that Sheikh Kamal used to provide modern dresses and sporting equipment to players.
Kamal appointed British coach for ensuring advanced training in sports for the first time in independent Bangladesh, she said.
At one stage, Kamal decided to establish district branch of Abahani Krira Chakra, the premier said, adding that he also took steps to provide retirement allowances to players apart from taking up various initiatives to make them self-reliant.
As per the goal, he set up 'Kheloyar Kalyan Tohobil' after receiving Tk 10 lakh donation from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said.
Sheikh Kamal was a multitalented person and a role model of youth, she said.
He was the country's best sports organiser, a sportsperson and a very meritorious student as well, she said.
She said Kamal used to practice and foster native culture from his heart apart from studying.
He had remarkable contributions to every sphere including sports, music, acting, debate and extempore speech, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Kamal remained immortal in the cultural arena by forming Spondon Shilpi Gosthi.
Kamal, who was a very polite, decent and good-natured person, used to communicate with common people as a very simple person, she said, adding that Kamal used to extend his helping hand to anyone in their need.
The prime minister extended her best wishes and congratulations to all the recipients of the prestigious award 'Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2023'.
She believed that this award will further encourage all individuals and organisations involved in sports and accelerate the ongoing progress in the field of sports.
Both the president and the premier wished a success of all programmes taken on the occasion of the 74th birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal.
First martyr of August carnage
Although Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the main target of the August 15 carnage, his eldest son Sheikh Kamal embraced martyrdom first in the brutal attack in 1975.
When Sheikh Kamal was introduced as Bangabandhu's son, he was killed immediately through brushfire with a stengun by Major (dismissed) Bazlul Huda.
From the testimony of a retired havildar and fourth prosecution witness in Bangabandhu murder case Mohammad Quddus Sikder, one of the guards of Bangabandhu's house, it was learnt that Bazlul Huda and Noor Chowdhury along with some others entered the house first.
Once they entered the house, they saw Sheikh Kamal and Bazlul Huda shot him with a Sten-gun immediately. Sheikh Kamal fell into the reception room from verandah. The killers shot him there again and killed him.
Mahitul Islam, the residential personal assistant of Bangabandhu Bhaban and the litigant in the murder case, mentioned this in his statement.
Mahitul Islam joined the then prime minister's Secretariat on December 13, 1972 as an assistant.
In 1975, Mahitul, a member of special branch of police, was the resident personal assistant cum-receptionist of the then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He was on duty from 8pm on August 14 to 8am the next day.
About the August 15 carnage, Mohitul said, "It was about 4:30am in the morning. All around has turned pale. There were electric lights around the house. The firing started at Bangabandhu's residence.
The firing was stopped a few moments later. Housekeeper Abdul alias Selim brought Punjabi and spectacles for Bangabandhu from above, Bangabandhu came to verandah wearing those Punjabi and eyeglasses and went downstairs saying, 'Army sentry, police sentry, what are you doing as too much firing was there?' and then he went to upstairs. Sheikh Kamal came down from the up and said 'army and police brothers, come with me. Then three to four uniformed army personnel came. Bazlul Huda, wearing uniforms, shot on the leg of Sheikh Kamal. When Sheikh Kamal was introduced as Sheikh Mujib's son, he was killed through brushfire."
A brief account of this is also found in the Mohiuddin Ahmed's book titled "House No. 32 - March 25 to August 15".
In the book, it is mentioned that Huda talked to one Baten about the details of Bangabandhu killing. Baten was a member of the Jasad-backed Chhatra League central committee. At that time, he lived in Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University.
After the August 15 carnage, Bazlul Huda came to his sister's house and took Baten out. Baten spent a night at his sister's house. Huda along with Baten took dinner at an army canteen near Ganabhaban. Huda talked to Baten there about the Mujib killing.
According to the Huda's statement, he carried out attack on the Dhanmondi house of Sheikh Mujib under leadership of Major Noor. Hearing firing sound, Sheikh Kamal went out of home and Huda killed him immediately.
After the attack on his house, Bangabandhu talked to the then Army Chief General Shafiullah through telephone. The similar evidence of Sheikh Kamal's killing is also found from their telephonic conversation.
In separate interviews with a national daily in 1987 and 1993, Shafiullah said after the attack on his house, Bangabandhu called him, asking him to send a force as soon as possible.
Bangabandhu said, 'Shafiullah, your force attacks my house. Kamal might be killed. Send your force quickly.'
Expatriate writer and researcher Golam Murshid has given a detailed account of this in his book titled "Liberation War and Then".
After the assassination of Sheikh Kamal, Mohiuddin and his allies entered the house and started looking for Sheikh Mujib. At last, he was seen on the front verandah. Mujib was standing calmly with a pipe in his hand.
Seeing Bangabandhu, Mohiuddin got feared and he could not shoot Bangabandhu. He just said "Sir, come with us". When he started down holding Bangabandhu from the stairs, Bangabandhu shouted, "Where are you taking me?"
At that time, asking Mohiuddin to stay aside Huda and Noor shot Bangabandhu with Sten-gun.
At about 5:40am in the morning, Bangabandhu fell down on the stairs, holding the pipe in his right hand. The killers shot him in the right side of his chest and the abdomen. And the glory-sun of Bengal set down at the time when the sun was about to rise.
After the assassination of Bangabandhu, the killing mission was not over yet. After Mohiuddin, Huda and Noor went out of the house, Aziz Pasha and Moslehuddin came with lancer and artillery troops. Pasha went to the first floor with his companions. Subedar Wahab Joardar was already there. They took Sheikh Russel, Sheikh Naser and one of the servants of the house down. Pasha and Moslehuddin shot Begum Mujib, Sheikh Jamal and the wives of Kamal and Jamal in the bedroom with Sten-guns.
Later, when Sheikh Russel was crying to go to his mother, Pasha asked a havildar to take Russel to his mother. And the havildar sent Russel to his mother on first floor and shot him dead.
