Staff Reporter:
The inaugural program of Bangabandhu 6th National Fencing Competition was held at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Wednesday.
Lt Gen (retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled, former Director General of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and ex commandant of National Defence College, joined the event as the chief guest.
Additional Inspector General of Police SM Ruhul Amin was present on the occasion as a special guest while the Prime Minister’s former Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and Secretary of National Sports Council Aminul Islam NDC joined the inaugural program as guests of honour.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Fencing Federation (BFF) Selim Omrao Khan gave the welcome speech at the program while it was presided over by Bangladesh Fencing Federation President Shoeb Chowdhury.
Lt Gen (retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled said that fencing was once upon a time an unfamiliar game in Bangladesh but during the last few years people all over the country have come to know about fencing through the efforts and competent leadership of BFF President Shoeb Chowdhury. Khaled called upon the young fencers to work for implementing their dreams quoting former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, “Dream is not what we see in our sleep. Rather, a dream is what does not allow us to sleep.”
BFF President Shoeb Chowdhury said that Bangladeshi fencers have shown their acumen through brilliant performances in different domestic and foreign contests including the South Asian Games 2019 in which Bangladeshi fencers won 11 (eleven) medals including one gold medal.
Shoeb Chowdhury further said that the tournament has been named “Bangabandhu 6th National Fencing Competition” paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic Six-Point Movement which will be observed on Thursday.
According to Shoeb Chowdhury, both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Youth and Sports Minister Nazmul Hasan Papon are sports-friendly leaders.
AKM Shameem Chowdhury, former Press Secretary to the Prime Minister said that Bangladeshis are a heroic nation who succeeded to liberate the country from the repressive clutches of the Pakistani rulers through the Liberation War of 1971 under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s unwavering leadership. AKM Shameem Chowdhury urged Bangladeshi fencers to cherish Bangabandhu’s ideology in their hearts and to move forward with courage, confidence and determination.
Secretary of National Sports Council Aminul Islam NDC extended greetings and compliments to the officials of Bangladesh Fencing Federation and the fencers for the arrangement of the tournament.
