'Honour Kazi Kamal with nat'l award'
Speakers at a memorial meeting yesterday urged the government to honour Kazi Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, posthumously with a national award to recognise his contributions to the Liberation War and the field of sports.
The meeting was organised by fellow fighters at the city's Liberation War Museum.
The valiant freedom fighter died of cancer on January 16 in a city hospital.
Kamal was a lively and modest person who never ran after power and wealth, things which are very much sought after by most government officials nowadays, said Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman.
Thanking the meeting attendees, he said, “Your (freedom fighters) spontaneous presence at this programme proves that the spirit of the Liberation War is yet to die out.”
A former basketball coach, Mahtabur Rahman Bulbul, highlighted Kamal's contribution to the country's sports arena and some valuable memories on the times he had spent with the legend.
“Why was he not given any national award for his contributions to sports?” he questioned, requesting the government to immediately recognise the contributions.
Expressing grief over the state's negligence towards freedom fighters since 1971, Habibul Alam, Bir Protik, said, “It (the suffering of freedom fighters) surpassed everything. My request to the political parties - please let us remain in peace.
“They (political parties) made sweet promises but did not do anything for the freedom fighters.”
Kamal, a graduate of Dhaka University and former coach of Bangladesh army basketball team, fought bravely in different operations in Dhaka and Narayanganj during the Liberation War.
He joined the army in October, 1971 but left it after the country's independence. He later became the coach of the national basketball team.
A few years later, he went to Germany and settled there. He returned home after more than a decade and started a business.
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