'Uphold the spirit of Sheikh Kamal'
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League and minister for road transport and bridges, urged all to keep sports out of politics like Sheikh Kamal did during his time as a sports organiser.
The former sports minister made the remark during a memorial programme on Sheikh Kamal, the founder of Abahani and the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to mark his 68th birth anniversary at the Sheikh Russel Roller Skating Complex in Paltan yesterday.
The programme turned into a get-together of former and current sports people, organisers, cultural figures, politicians and those who were once deeply involved with sports and cultural activities alongside Sheikh Kamal.
Speakers opined that the face of the country's sports would have been different had Sheikh Kamal not been assassinated alongside most of the members of his family on August 15, 1975.
“Many people have tried to call into question the character of Sheikh Kamal over the last 42 years, but his brilliance in sports, culture and politics has been recognised as time progressed. I will hope the character of Sheikh Kamal will be reflected in our sports,” chief guest Quader said. “Kamal kept sports beyond politics and I urge you all to uphold the spirit of Sheikh Kamal in a bid to develop and take the country's sports ahead.”
Freedom fighter and eminent cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuf Bacchu described how Sheikh Kamal was involved with 1969's mass movement and the War of Independence and the formation of cultural organisations.
“The death of Sheikh Kamal was not only a big loss to sport but also to culture,” said Bacchu.
Singer Ferdous Wahid reflected on how they were introduced to modern musical instruments after liberation, which he felt was possible due to the involvement of Sheikh Kamal.
“Sheikh Kamal is not only the all-time best organiser; he is a piece of history and an institution. He was a politician, a sportsman, an organiser and a cultural personality,” said former athlete and organiser Rafia Akter Dolly.
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