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Life and tragic end of Sheikh Russel


Published : 17 Oct 2019 08:02 PM | Updated : 11 Oct 2021 06:42 PM

Sheikh Russel was the youngest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Not only was he the youngest but also the most adored one by the Father of the Nation. The life of this patriot was cut short by the murderers of Bangabandhu on August 15. He too wanted to live and see a Sonar Bangla. Today is the birth anniversary of Sheikh Russel that is why Bangladesh Post has arranged a special segment on him. Rather than mourning for him on this day, this special occasion could have been different had he not been killed on that fateful day. 

Early life

Russel was born on October 18, 1964, at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was the brother of Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. At the time of his death, he was a student at the University Laboratory School.

Death

At 12:30 a.m. BST on August 15, 1975, Bangladesh Army officers attacked the Dhaka residence of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Russel was killed by the officers, as were most of his family members who were also home at the time of the attack.

Legacy

The name of Sheikh Russell did not get lost in history. Several athletic organizations in Bangladesh have been named in memory of Russel, including the professional football club Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, the Sheikh Russel School Table Tennis Tournament, the Sheikh Russel Memorial Sporting Club and the Sheikh Russel Roller Skating Complex. In April 2014, a children's park named Sheikh Russel Shishutosh Angan was built in Kalabagan, Dhaka.

‘Russel asked me last night why I do not become Gautam Buddha’, Bangabandhu told me’, said Gitali Dasgupta— home tutor of Sheikh Russel.

His birthday is observed annually by Bangladesh Awami League and organizations associated with it. The Sheikh Russel Jatio Shishu Kishore Parishad is a philanthropic organization based in Dhaka.

On February 20, 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the Shaheed Sheikh Russel Bridge on the Shibbaria River. On October 2, 2016, the Bangladesi Information and Communication Technology Division announced plans to build 2,000 computer labs called Sheikh Russel Digital Labs (SRDLs) in schools and colleges across Bangladesh.