Ten sports personalities and two organizations received the prestigious Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council Award 2023 for outstanding contribution in their respective field of sports.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the awards to the recipients at a function in the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium Saturday morning.
Ministry of Youth and Sports organized the ceremony on the occasion of the 74th birth anniversary of valiant Freedom Fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Abdus Sadek, the legendary hockey player and first captain of the national hockey team, was adorned with the lifetime achievement award.
Women's football team skipper Sabina Khatun, cricketer Taskin Ahmed and South Asian gold medalist weightlifter Ziarul Islam were honored with the award in the sportsperson category.
Table tennis player Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy and hockey player Amirul Islam received the emerging athlete award, while grassroots hockey organizer Fazlul Islam and Kalsindur Government School and College principal Mala Rani Sarker were conferred with the award in sports organizer category.
Khandakar Tarek Nurullah got the sports journalist award, Bangladesh Archery Federation the sports association/federation/organization award, and Bangladesh Association of Banks the sports sponsor award.
On behalf of BAB, Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat received the award.
In addition, the ministry, for the first time, included the sports commentator category in the Sheikh Kamal NSC Award.
Former national cricketer and renowned commentator Athar Ali Khan got the sports commentator award.
Each of the awardees received Tk1 lakh, a crest, and a certificate.
With State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel in the chair, secretary Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome address.
Prime Minister's private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman also spoke reminiscing the life and activities of Sheikh Kamal.
On behalf of the award recipients, Sadek and Sabina spoke at the function.
Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports Abdullah Al Islam Jakob was also present.
At the outset, an audio-visual on life and activities of Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal was screened.
The premier also unveiled the cover of a book "Sheikh Kamal: Khanajonma Ek Nakhkhatra".
Earlier Thursday, the names of the 10 sports personalities and two organizations in eight categories were announced for the prestigious Sheikh Kamal NSC Award.
The recipients of this award were finalized after being scrutinized by the concerned committee in light of specific criteria in recognition of outstanding contributions to sports.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports introduced the award for the first time in 2021 on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal's 72nd birth anniversary.
The PM also distributed "Bangabandhu Sports Scholarship" at the ceremony.
The scholarship is being given by the Bangabandhu Krirashebi Kalyan Foundation in fiscal year 2023-24.
A total of 500 students are being provided with the scholarship, where students from classes V-X will get Tk12,000 annually, while students from classes XI to honors level will receive Tk24,000 annually.
Earlier, before joining this ceremony, the premier, at her official residence Ganabhaban, released a commemorative postage stamp of Tk10, a souvenir sheet comprising three stamps of Tk40, first day cover of Tk10, a data card of Tk5, and used a canceller on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal's 74th birth anniversary.
