The 73rd birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is being observed in a befitting manner on Friday.

Born on August 5, 1949 in Tungipara of Gopalganj, Sheikh Kamal was a former executive member of the central committee of Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League.

Different sports and socio-cultural organizations, including the ruling Awami League, took elaborate programs to observe the day.

Marking the day, Awami League and its affiliates paid homage to Sheikh Kamal by placing floral wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Abahani Club in Dhanmondi.

Wreaths were also laid at his grave at Banani Graveyard.

Besides, Abahani Limited has chalked out day-long programs to observe the birth anniversary of its founder, Sheikh Kamal.

The directors, officials and players of Abahani Club paid tribute to Sheikh Kamal by placing wreaths at his portrait on the club premises in the early hours of Friday and offered special prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed soul.

The programs also include daylong recitation from the Holy Quran, a virtual discussion on the life and works of Sheikh Kamal at 4pm and doa mahfil at the club building after Asr prayers maintaining social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

After passing secondary examinations from Shahin School and higher secondary exams from Dhaka College, Sheikh Kamal obtained his BA from the social science department of Dhaka University.

He was also a student of Setar musical department of Chayanat, a reputed cultural entity in the country.

Kamal was not only the founder of Abahani Krira Chakra, one of the best sports organizations in the subcontinent and pioneer of modern football in Bangladesh, but also a founder-member of Dhaka Theatre.

He was well-known as an actor in the Dhaka University's drama arena.

Since his childhood, Kamal was very much enthusiastic about different sports including football, cricket, hockey and basket-ball.

Sheikh Kamal was commissioned in the Muktibahini after receiving training from the first war course in independent Bangladesh and served as ADC of General MAG Osmani, the commander-in-chief of the Liberation War in 1971.

After the country's independence, Sheikh Kamal retired from the army and paid attention to studies.

Kamal was a master's (final year) examinee and a member of the Jatiya Chhatra League central committee, a wing of Bangladesh Krishak, Sramik Awami League (Baksal), when he embraced martyrdom on August 15 in 1975 at the age of 26.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged all leaders and activists of the ruling party and its associate bodies to observe the day in a befitting manner.