Different sports governing bodies and clubs including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Bangladesh Football Federation and Abahani Limited observed the National Mourning Day Thursday in remembrance of the 44th year of martyrdom of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The BCB arranged a feeding of the less privileged at the board’s management office premises, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, while the BFF, in the presence of its president Kazi Salahuddin, also arranged a feeding of the orphans and underprivileged, along with recitation of the Holy Quran at the premises of the BFF House, Motijheel.
Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangabandhu, who was also murdered along with most of the family members on August 15, 1975, was a versatile sports and cultural personality.
He was mostly remembered in the sports arena for his involvement with football, cricket, athletics and basketball.
After remembering Bangabandhu, Salahuddin also shared a memory of Sheikh Kamal.
“Last time I talked to Sheikh Kamal was on August 8, 1975. We were flying to Malaysia to play Mardeka Cup. Kamal was earlier scheduled to go with us as team manager but he couldn’t make it due to a political program,” the country’s football legend told reporters.
Salahuddin, a key Swadhin Bangla Football Team member, added, “His vision was on Asia as he wanted to build Bangladesh football team as one of the powerhouses in Asia. I still remember this day like I talked to him yesterday.”
Sheikh Kamal was the founder of the country’s most successful club, Abahani.
The Dhanmondi-based club, held a day-long program to pay tribute to the memory of their founder, Sheikh Kamal.
The directors, officials and players of Abahani offered flowers to the murals of Sheikh Kamal at the club premises in the early hours of Thursday.
Prayers and flowers were offered at the mazar of Sheikh Kamal at Banani Graveyard in the morning while the poor and underprivileged people were fed in the afternoon.
Other sports federations including Bangladesh Chess Federation, Bangladesh Handball Federation and Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation arranged different programs like doa mahfil and food distribution to observe the day.
The handball federation also organized a discussion Wednesday evening.
Among others, Bangladesh Boys Club also observed the day with doa-milad mahfil and distribution of food to the poor people at the club pavilion, while Sammilito Krira Paribar also paid tribute to Bangabandhu.
