DHAKA, April 28, 2021 (BSS)- The 68th birthday of Sheikh Jamal, son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was observed today in a befitting manner.
The programmes included visiting and laying wreaths at graveyard of Jamal, offering special prayers, reciting surah Fatiha and distributing Iftar items among poor people.
To mark the day, Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies paid rich tributes to Shaheed Sheikh Jamal, a freedom fighter, by placing wreaths at his Banani graveyard here in the morning.
In the morning, first Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and later her party Awami League(AL) paid homage to Sheikh Jamal at Banani graveyard.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, on behalf of AL, placed a wreath at Jamal’s grave at Banani here while several AL leaders including AL joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, AL Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Shopon, SM Kamal Hossain and Advocate Afzal Hossain, Relief and Disaster Management Affairs Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and office secretary Barrister Biplob Barua were, among others, also present.
On the occasion, Surah Fatiha was offered as well as a special munajat and doa mahfil was also held there.
Later, leaders of Dhaka North and South City Units of AL, Jubo League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Matsyajibi Leagu, Mohila Sramik League, Sheikh Jamal Jatiya Smrity Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and other social and cultural organizations paid their rich tributes at Sheikh Jamal’s grave.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Sheikh Jamal’s birthday, the Ministry of Youth and Sports organized a discussion on virtual platform.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Youth and Sports Secretary Md Akhter Hossain in the chair.
Awami League Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary Harunur Rashid and Shaheed Sheikh Kamal’s close associate Swadhin Bangla Football Team Manager and prominent sports organizer Tanvir Mazhar Islam Tanna addressed it.
Besides, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is implementing various day long programmes to observe the birthday of Sheikh Jamal.
In the afternoon, Iftar items were distributed among the poor and helpless at the proposed Shaheed Jamal National Tennis Complex in the city.
Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also paid homage to Sheikh Jamal on his birthday by placing wreath at his graveyard.
After paying respect, the mayor observed a minute of silence as mark of profound respect to Shaheed Sheikh Jamal.
Special prayer was offered and Surah Fahiha was recited seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Jamal there.
Born on April 28 in 1954 at Tungipara in Gopalganj, Sheikh Jamal did his matriculation from Dhaka Residential Model College and intermediate from Dhaka College. He joined the 1971 War of Liberation.
While studying at Dhaka College, Jamal traveled to Yugoslavia for military training under the auspices of the Yugoslav army.
Subsequently, he received training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Great Britain.
He joined the Bangladesh Army as a Commissioned Officer.
Jamal was also a noted cricketer. He was also fond of music and used to play guitar.
On August 15 in 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independent Bangladesh, with most of his family members, including Sheikh Jamal, was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers.
Bangabandhu’s two daughters – incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and his sister Sheikh Rehana – escaped the carnage as they were abroad at that time.