Youth will elevate country’s status following Sheikh Kamal’s ideals, hopes PM

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today hoped that the young generation would groom themselves following the ideals, principles, work procedure and directives of freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal to elevate Bangladesh’s status further not only at home but also across the global.

“Freedom Fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal had left behind ideals, principles, work procedure and directives for us. I wish that ranging from the country’s little children to the youth generation would groom themselves following Sheikh Kamal,” she said.

The premier expressed this optimism while distributing Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award-2022 at a ceremony in city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium, organised to mark the 73rd birth anniversary of Freedom Fighter Shaheed captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

She joined the ceremony as chief guest virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban this morning.

Sheikh Hasina said, “We can improve the status of Bangladesh further not only at home but also at the international level by developing our talent and thinking, I want our sons and daughters to work in the same way.

With State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel in the chair, secretary of the ministry Mesbah Uddin delivered the welcome address.

Awami League Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary and noted sports organizer Harunur Rashid and legendary percussionist and musician Kazi Hablu, founding member of the Spandan Shilpi Gosthi established by Sheikh Kamal, also spoke reminiscing the life and visionary works of Sheikh Kamal in sports, music and other areas.

At the outset of the ceremony, a video documentary on the life and works of Sheikh Kamal titled “Ek Alor Pather Jatri (A Traveler of the Road of Light)” was screened.

The Prime Minister also unveiled the cover of a pictorial souvenir titled “the Embodiment of Enlightened Youth” highlighting the life and works of Sheikh Kamal.

The Prime Minister said that Kamal is no more today, but he has set examples from introducing the modern football and establishing Abahani Krira Chakra to involving the little children and young generation in various sports .

She said Kamal used to play hockey, football, cricket and sitar, participate in drama and get prizes for extempore lecture at the same time.

He was also politically conscious and had foresight and had been an active activist of Chhatra League since his admission in Dhaka College, she added.

Apart from this, Sheikh Hasina said, Kamal had also done the task of popularizing various local songs using modern instruments and musical practice by establishing Spandan Shilpi Goshthi as he was born with multilateral talent.

“But, Kamal always used to lead a very simple life (even after being a son of the country’s President),” she said.

Noting that her father Bangabandhu taught them to lead a simple life, she said that their motto was “simple living, high thinking” and they used to follow what her father had taught them.

Walking down to the memory lane, Sheikh Hasina said that the practice of his (kamal) music team used to take place on the rooftop at their house where many including Feroz Sai, Ferdous Wahid, Naseeruddin would come.

Being able to return to the country six years after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Premier said, she turned the Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi No. 32 house into a museum.

Mentioning that Feroz Sai handed over Kamal’s mouth organ to her, with which he used to play music, Sheikh Hasina said that she kept the mouth organ and Kamal’s “sitar” in the museum.

She said that even though Sheikh Kamal got commissioned in the army, since his graduation at Dhaka University was not completed yet, he left the army and joined Dhaka University again to fulfill her mother’s desire.

But, he left the world for the land of no return (as he was killed brutally with Bangabandhu and other family members) before the results of his masters’ examination was published, she added.

Extending gratitude to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for introducing the Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award, the Prime Minister hoped that Sheikh Kamal’s contribution as a freedom fighter as well as sports and cultural personality will be remembered by all for it.

At the same time, Sheikh Hasina said, she wants the youth of the country to be more active in all the fields including sports, cultural activities, social services and involve themselves with more.

That’s why her party Awami League whenever assumes power tries to improve the sports and culture of the country, she said.

Following the initiative of Sheikh Kamal that he took in favour of the destitute persons in the field of sports and culture, Sheikh Hasina said, her government has provided seed money and set up various trust funds for the people of different sectors.

Sheikh Kamal was born on this day in 1949 in Tungipara village under the then Gopalganj subdivision. On the night of August 15, 1975, he was martyred along with most of his family members, including father of the nation and Bangamata, at the age of 26.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has nominated nine sports personalities and two organisations in seven categories for the prestigious Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council (NSC) Award in 2022.

Veteran sports organizer Harunur Rashid received lifetime award, while Liton Kumar Das (cricket), Abdullah Hel Baki (shooting) and Mollah Sabira Sultana (weightlifting) were given the award in sport personality category.

Emerging athletes: Diya Siddique (Archery) and Mohammad Shariful Islam (Cricket).

Sports organizer: Saidur Rahman Patel and Nazma Shamim.

Sports association/federation/sports organization: Bangladesh Olympic Association.

Sports sponsor: Green Delta Insurance Company Limited.

Sports journalist: Kashinath Bashak.

Each of the award winner received Taka one lakh, a crest and certificate.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports introduced this award for the first time last year on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal’s birth anniversary.

The nominees for this award are finalized after being scrutinized by the concerned committee in the light of specific criteria for recognition of their outstanding contribution to sports. (BSS)