President M Abdul Hamid on Thursday said Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was a shining star in the country’s sports and cultural arena.
He said Sheikh Kamal along with his friends established a theater troupe named ‘Dhaka Theatre’ and a modern musical organisation ‘Spondon Shilpi Gosthi’ after the independence with an effort to uphold the Bangla and Bangalee culture to the global arena.
After from his study, Sheikh Kamal also engaged himself with the practice of music, acting, debate and extempore speech.
The President said these in a message on the eve of the 73rd birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal to be observed today.
He also paid glowing tributes to the memory of valiant freedom fighter and August 15, 1975 carnage martyr Captain Sheikh Kamal on his birth anniversary.
“I am very happy to know that the Ministry of Youth and Sports took initiative to celebrate his birthday in a gorgeous manner with various programmes for the third time,” he said.
Sheikh Kamal was a very familiar cultural personality and sports organiser in the arena of sports and drama on Dhaka University campus, he said.
Abdul Hamid said Sheikh Kamal remained unforgettable in the country’s sports arena with establishing Abahani Krira Chakra as he was the pioneer of modern football in the country with his wisdom and own thought for sports.
Sheikh Kamal showed his expertise in all branches of sports, he said.
After his brutal killing along with most of his family members including Bangabandhu by the anti-liberation forces on the black night of August 15 in 1975, the progression of sports arena was halted to a great extent, he said.
The President said sports-loving cultural minded and youthful Sheikh Kamal also participated in frontline battle during the Liberation War.
As a memento of showing profound respect to the memory of illustrious person Sheikh Kamal, the Ministry of Youth and Sports introduced Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award last year, he said.
President Hamid also extended congratulations to all recipients of the award of this year.
He hoped the award would encourage all individuals and institutions connected with sports and expedite the ongoing progression of the sports arena.
He sought eternal peace of departed soul of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal on his 73rd birth anniversary.