PM hands over National Sports Awards
Independent Online Desk
Thirty two sports personalities, including Shaheed Sheikh Kamal and country`s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, were honoured today with National Sports Awards for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the awards to them at a function at Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital this morning in recognition to their outstanding contributions from their respective fields to the development of games and sports.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder presided over the
function, while Deputy Minister Arif Khan Joy and Chairman of the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Youths and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell were present as the special guests.
Secretary of the ministry Kazi Akhter Uddin Ahmed delivered the welcome address.
Sheikh Kamal, a star in sports arena during the post-independence period and the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was given the National Sports Award (posthumously) for 2011.
Founder of the countrys leading sports club Abahani Krira Chakra, Sheikh Kamal was assassinated along with his parents, spouse and other family members on the fateful night of August 15, 1975.
The National Sports Award, introduced in 1976, is the highest honour bestowed upon a sports personality. A total of 188 sports personalities so far have been given the award, which includes 19 cricketers.
Before Shakib, ICC Trophy-winning captain Akram Khan received the award in 1998 while Mohammad Rafique, the architect of countrys first-ever one-day international win, got the national award in 2006.
The recipients of the National Sports Award for 2010 are: Master Warrant Officer Harun-Ur-Rashid (swimming), Atiqur Rahman (shooting), Mahmuda Begum (athletics), Dewan Md. Nazrul Hossain (gymnastics), Mizanur Rahman Manu (organiser), ASM Ali Kabir (organiser), Nayek Md. Tokbir Hossain (swimming, posthumously), Farid Khan Chowdhury (athletics), Nelee Jesmine (athletics) and Nipa Bose (athletics, Autistic).
The National Sports Award recipients for 2011 are: Rowshan Ara Chobi (gymnastics), Sergeant Md. Kanchon Ali (boxing), Md. Ashraf Ali (wrestling), Helena Khan (Eva) (volleyball), Khaled Masud Pilot (cricket), M Robiul Islam (Fatik Dutta) (bodybuilding), Jumman Lusai (hockey, posthumously), Kutub Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Aksir) (organiser), Ashikur Rahman Miku (organiser) and Sheikh Kamal (athletics and organiser, posthumously).
The National Sports Award recipients for 2012 are: Shakib Al Hasan
(cricket), Md. Mohsin (football), M Khurshid Alam Babul (football), Ashish Bhadra (football), Satyajit Das Rupu (football), Abdul Gaffar
(football),Firoza Khatun (athletics), Nazia Akter Juthi (badminton), Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapal (organiser), ANM Mamun Ur Rashid (hockey), Umme Salma Rafique (organiser, posthumously) and Nurul Alam Chowdhury (organiser). BSS
