DHAKA – State Minister for Youth and Sports Mohammad Zahid Ahsan Russell MP today said the contribution of Bangabandhu and his family to the development of sports in pre independence and after the independence of Bangladesh is undeniable.
He was speaking as a chief guest in a discussion meeting and doa- mahfil on the occasion of the National Mourning Day, organised by the National Sports Council (NSC) held here today.
The State Minister said Bangabandhu spent most of his life in prison fighting for the people of this country …… he was a great leader of the oppressed, exploited and deprived people and also inspired the people. He chose politics to improve the development of the common people as well as to free them from exploitation and deprivation.
Bangabandhu and his family members have a golden past and there are innumerable signatures of his contribution towards sports.
Russell said the father of Bangabandhu Sheikh Lutfar Rahman was also a well-known footballer, Bangabandhu himself was also a masterpiece footballer and played hockey and volleyball. He had a special focus on the development of the game as well.
The sports lover Bangabandhu’s eldest son Sheikh Kamal also surpassed his father in this case in sports while Sheikh Jamal was a football and cricket player. Sheikh Kamal’s wife Sultana Kamal’s name seems to be mixed with grass of green field. They are all captive of the frame today but in the twist and turns of life they made the country’s sports prosperous.
The State Minister said sports lover Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is not a sportsman but a close relative, responsible guardian, dedicated spectator and chief patron in the sports arena.
Bangladesh has touched the biggest achievements in sports during the tenure of sports friendly Prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of the Father of the Nation, was also particularly keen on sports.
Russell said the ‘swadhin Bangla football team’ was formed under the inspiration of Father of the Nation and their role in the great liberation war is still eternal today. The first football match of the country was held on February 13, 1973 and Bangabandhu himself inaugurated the match.
Bangabandhu formed Bangladesh Football Federation and Bangladesh Cricket Board. In order to give legal basis, the Bangladesh sports council act passed in 1974 by the initiative of Bangabandhu…. he also established the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Prothistan and formed Bangabandhu kriashebi Kalyan Foundation, he concluded.
NSC secretary Mohammad Masud Karim, Bangladesh Awami League labor and manpower affairs secretary Mohammad Habibur Rahman yo Siraj, Jatiya Sramik League president freedom fighter Fazlul Haque Montu and officials of NSC were present in the discussion meeting.BSS
