Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is best known as a legendary figure in sports and cultural arena of Bangladesh. Such a simple and amiable young leader I have never seen in my life.
He had active presence in the field of sports, culture and politics. Being a proud son of the Father of the Nation, he took arms and fought a tremendous battle against the Pakistani occupation army during the War of Liberation. And he was the ADC to General MAG Osmani, the Commander in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters).
After coming back from war, he got admitted to the University of Dhaka to complete his study. He was as simple as the other boys in the class. Even being the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, he was not an egoistic person, but a modest, amiable and helpful identity for all.
Sheikh Kamal’s contribution to sports and cultural arena of Bangladesh is huge and echoed till date. He was the founder-president of the country's leading sporting club Abahani Krira Chakra and founder-member of Dhaka Theatre. Kamal introduced modern football in Bangladesh after the independence.
Sheikh Kamal has been an inspiration of the young
leaders of the country irrespective of cast and creed
and political affiliation. He was such a magnetic
person that anybody who got in touch with him
could not forget and avoid him.
Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League was also organised by Sheikh Kamal in 1960. He put Bangladesh Chhatra League on a rock-solid foundation which instilled the spirit of the War of Liberation into the blood and philosophy of the students of Bangladesh.
Sheikh Kamal has been an inspiration of young leaders of the country irrespective of cast and creed and political affiliation. He is a symbol of enthusiasm. He was such a magnetic person that anybody who got in touch with him could not forget and avoid him.
He has hundreds of friends and followers throughout the country who will never forget him. He could mix with new friends so easily and became close with them within a second.
Sheikh Kamal was a real leader of general people. Immediately after the liberation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Chhatra League, the forerunner of the Liberation War, got divided.
At that crisis moment Sheikh Kamal started reorganising the party which he loved more than his life itself. By working throughout day and night and going down to the grass-roots level, within a month he made Chhatra League one of the strongest student front in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Kamal lived such a simple life that nobody could understand he was the son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib unless somebody introduced him.
Sheikh Kamal got married to Sultana Kamal, first female Blue of Dhaka University, and a famous athlete of the country.
Bangabandhu was scheduled to visit Dhaka University on the 15th of August, 1975. And accordingly we were passing a busy hour on the 14th August on the campus to ensure that everything is alright.
Some of us, including Esmat Kadir Gama, SM Salam, who recently died in Canada, Taiabu Bahar, Shahed Reza, Abdul Motin and me were working at the Arts Faculty and at around 9pm Sheikh Kamal came to us.
He was inspecting how things are going on. Sheikh Kamal stayed a few minutes with us and asked about the bomb blast near the University Library on that day.
Passing some time with us, Sheikh Kamal went to attend a marriage ceremony of one of his friends. And that was my last meeting with Kamal Bhai.
We remember Sheikh Kamal with profound regard and respect and through his demise we lost our leader and the nearest one and the nation lost its future leader who could lead the country to its pick of development.
Sharif Shahab Uddin is Editor-in-Chief, Bangladesh Post.
