Dr Ashikur Rahman Shanto, an executive member of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League and senior economist at the Policy Research Institute (PRI), distributed wheelchairs among the persons with disabilities at his village home in Bhola on Saturday marking the 74th birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal.
Born on August 5 in 1949, Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was killed along with his father and other members of the family on August 15 in 1975.
His sisters -Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana – survived as they were abroad during that time. Sheikh Hasina is the current prime minister of Bangladesh.
In his only 26 years of life, Sheikh Kamal has been credited to take the country's sports and culture to a unique height after the independence in 1971.
Dr Ashikur Rahman, while distributing the wheelchairs, paid respect to Sheikh Kamal. He also recalled his outstanding contributions to the fields of sports and culture alongside helping his father rebuild war-ravaged Bangladesh.
Bhola District Jubo League organized the wheelchair distribution program with Dr Ashikur Rahman as the chief guest.
Some 50 wheelchairs were distributed among as many persons with disabilities. Dr Ashikur Rahman enquired about their conditions and assisted them to sit on the new wheelchairs.
He said while most of the politicians spend time blaming each other, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was relentless in her work to bring smiles to the people’s faces.
“She (the prime minister) introduced allowances for the people with disabilities, widows, aged persons and took many poor friendly programs,” he said.
Leaders of Bhola district Jubo League including Mostak Ahmed Shahin, AZM Monirul Islam, Nowshad Hossain Moon, and Razib Hassan Lipu were present, among others, during the event at ‘Shanto Nir’ in Ukilpara, Bhola sadar.