DHAKA, Aug 7, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman said valiant freedom fighter Shaheed Sheikh Kamal was a multi-talented complete human being, who always worked for the interest of people of the country.
“In just 26 years of his life, Sheikh Kamal has left a permanent mark of his outstanding talent and extraordinary activities. No greed could ever touch him. He always worked to protect the interests of the organisation rather than the individual,” he said.
Salman said this while speaking as the chief guest at a function on “Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal: Valiant Freedom Fighter, Sports and Youth Icon” marking the 71st birth anniversary of the heroic freedom fighter Shaheed Sheikh Kamal at Bangladesh High Commission in London on Thursday, said a press release here today.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell and renowned journalist and writer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury were present at the function as special guests.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) Saida Muna Tasnim presided over the function.
One of the exceptional attractions of the programme was the emotional and sweet memories of the classmates of Sheikh Kamal of the Department of Social Sciences of Dhaka University and the colleagues of the Abahani Sporting Club and the Liberation War.
Among them, founder general secretary of Abahani Sporting Club, former MP Harun-or-Rashid, war course mate Major General (Retd.) Sayeed Ahmed, Bir Pratik and Sheikh Kamal’s classmates and close friends Dr Habibul Haque Khandaker, Tourid Hossain Badal and Dr Mehraj Jahan.
Senior personalities of the British Bangladeshi community Sultan Mahmud Sharif and Syed Sajidur Rahman Farooq, Freedom fighter Dewan Gaus Khan and former BBC journalist Uday Shankar Das gave short speeches on the occasion.
Over 300 young Bangladeshis from Bangladesh UK, Ireland, Europe and Middle East countries participated in the commemorative function organised for the first time on the birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal at the embassy under the direction of the government.
Zahid Ahsan Russell said his ministry under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various initiatives to commemorate the unique contribution made by Shaheed Sheikh Kamal in the development of youth and sports since independence.
“Notable among these is the ‘Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award’, the construction of international standard stadiums and sports complexes in the name of Sheikh Kamal at various district and upazila levels and the publication of various books on the life of Sheikh Kamal. Besides, Bangladesh football has been taken to the international level to realize Sheikh Kamal’s dream,” he added.
Saida Muna Tasnim said although the assassins brutally assassinated Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975, but the pioneering, multi-dimensional figure in the field of sports and culture will remain in the minds of Bengalis.
Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury said like father Bangabandhu, Sheikh Kamal was a very brave man.
“Shortly after Bangabandhu’s declaration of independence on the morning of March 26, he ran away from home to take part in the liberation war taking life risk. His courageous thinking, organizational skills and prudence made him a role model for young people in post-war Bangladesh,” he added.