Sheikh Kamal was first martyr of Aug 15, 1975 carnage

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DHAKA, Aug 4, 2018 (BSS) – Though the main target of the brutal coup de tat of August 15, 1975 was the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his eldest son, Sheikh Kamal, was the first to be martyred.

According to the deposition of Havildar Quddus, one of the security guards of Bangabandhu’s residence, Major Bazlul Huda and Captain Nur Chowdhury along with some of his accomplices, entered the Dhanmandi residence of Bangabandhu and carried out the gruesome killings.

After entering the house, they saw Sheikh Kamal, first, in the porch. Huda opened fire and Kamal was hit in the legs. Kamal stumbled and fell. The killers later, returned and shot an injured Kamal dead.

He was buried along with his mother and other slained family members at Banani Graveyard.

Sheikh Kamal was a veteran of the Liberation War and had served the Bangladesh army as a lieutenant during the war. He was the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) of the Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army during the same period.

After the war, he decided to continue his studies as an undergraduate student at Dhaka University rather than pursuing a military career.

He was a versatile organizer, leaving his mark in sports and culture. He played basketball and cricket and organized Abahani Krira Chakra that later became Abahani Ltd. Under his leadership the club introduced “modern” football in Bangladesh.

He also organized a cultural organization “Uchcharon”, which introduced former freedom fighters who had a knack for music on modern lines.

Sheikh Kamal, himself, was a life-long sitar player and appeared sometimes in TV sitar recitals, as well.