The development work of Sheikh Kamal Krira (Sports) Complex will begin in full swing this winter, said the chairman of Abahani Limited, Salman F Rahman, yesterday. He was speaking at a daylong programme organised by Abahani Limited on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of its founder Sheikh Kamal on the club premises. The invited guests recollected the versatile genius of Kamal, the elder son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his great passion for sports and culture.

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Shahjahan Kamal, State Minister for Water Resources Nazrul Islam, Abahani's former chairman and director in charge Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Youth and Sports Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Harunur Rashid and Abahani

director Enam Ahmed also addressed the programme with Salman F Rahman in the chair.

 “Sheikh Kamal, a son of then president of Bangladesh, had never been ambitious. It's really astonishing! His fellow feeling was unparalleled,” said Mosharraf Hossain.

About the Sports Complex of Abahani Limited, Salman F Rahman said: "We could not begin the development work due to some unfinished paperwork relating to the lands.”

“In 1996, we started the work of our dream and got the lease order for the required lands for the club. But the BNP-led government at that time cancelled the order. We had to wait for a long time to regain the lands,” he explained.

“We've finally completed all the paperwork. Hopefully, the RAJUK will approve of the plan very soon. We expect to begin the work in full swing from the coming winter," he added.

Salman F Rahman, who is also the vice-chairman of the BEXIMCO Group, said: “We've already begun the preliminary works with a building for the Under-18 football team and a mini gallery."