Sultana Kamal (athlete)
Sultana "Khuki" Kamal | |
|---|---|
সুলতানা কামাল | |
| Born | Sultana Ahmed 10 December 1951 |
| Died | 15 August 1975 (aged 23) |
| Cause of death | Shot to death |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Education | Bachelor and Master’s in Sociology (she wasn’t able to finish her Master’s program due to being assassinated) |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Spouse | |
| Father | Dabiruddin Ahmed |
| Relatives | See Sheikh–Wazed family |
Sultana Kamal (née Ahmed; 10 December 1951 – 15 August 1975), nicknamed Khuki, was a Bangladeshi athlete. She was married to Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangladesh President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She was killed during the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman family.
Family
Sultana Khuki Ahmed was the seventh of the nine children of Mr. Dabiruddin Ahmed who was an engineer of Dhaka University. She was born in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar on December 10, 1952. On July 14, 1975, Sultana Ahmed tied her knot with sports personality Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Afterwards, she adopted her husband’s name Kamal and was henceforth known as Mrs. Sultana Kamal.
Education and sports
Kamal was a student of the University of Dhaka.[1] In 1966, Sultana took part in provincial athletics on behalf of Mohammedan Sporting Club. Then the charm of provincial athletics was different. Every day, a large number of spectators came to witness the contest that lasted for three to four days. At this meet, Sultana won Silver medal in events like High Jump, Broad Jump and 100m Sprint and Bronze in 80m Hurdles. Pakistan National Games Meet was held in Dhaka from April 12 to 15, 1968. Four sports women (Sultana, Rowshon Akhter Chhobi, Ishrat and Sufia Khatun) from East Pakistan won Gold medals in Long Jump, 80m Hurdles, High Jump and 100m Sprint. Earlier, none won Gold in any national meet. In All Pakistan Women’s Athletics Championship held in Lahore in 1970, Sultana won Gold medal in Long Jump. There she also won another medal.
In independent Bangladesh, Sultana got an opportunity to take part in merely three national athletics meets (1973, 1974 and 1975). In the 1st National Athletics Meet, she won Gold in 100-metre Hurdles, Silver in 100-metre Sprint, Gold in both Long Jump and High Jump events. That means she won three Gold medals and one Silver medal in favour of Dhaka University. Later, in 1974, in the 2nd National Athletics Meet held in Dhaka, she won Gold in Long Jump and Silver in 100-metre Hurdles and High Jump. In the 3rd National Athletics Meet held in Chittagong (now Chattogram), she won Gold creating a new record in 100-metre Hurdles and Gold in Broad Jump. This was her last participation in national athletics meet. That means, Sultana won six Gold and three Silver medals from three national athletics meet. In recognition to her extra-ordinary achievement in 1973 National Athletics, she was dubbed as the ‘Golden Girl’ in sports arena. In the history of the independent country, Sultana Ahmed showed her mettle in the 1st National Athletics Meet where no male athlete was able to show such solo performance. Her extra-ordinary performance has glorified Dhaka University.
Dhaka University which was established in 1921 has a glorious past and tradition in sports arena. After the country’s independence, Sultana Ahmed first lit the torch of that glorious tradition. In 1970, Sultana became the first woman Blue of Dhaka University in its history.[2]
The Bangladesh squad that took part in All India Rural Games held in New Delhi in 1973, consisted of sports persons like Sultana Ahmed, Rowshon Akhter Chhobi, Salma Rafiq, Nazma Shams, Shamim Ara Tolly and many others. There Sultana Ahmed won a Silver creating a new record in High Jump. And, Shamim Ara Tolly won Bronze in 100-metre Sprint. After independence, this was the first experience of victory of Bangladeshi sports persons beyond the country’s border.
Death & Legacy
On August 15, 1975, Khuki and her husband Kamal were assassinated alongside Kamal’s parents, brothers and other relatives.
In 2011, Bangladesh Women's Sports Association introduced the Sultana Kamal Independence Day Award for the contributors to Bangladesh's women's sports.[3]
Eponyms
- Sultana Kamal Women's Complex – a sports complex in Dhanmondi, Dhaka[4]
- Athlete Sultana Kamal Hall – a female student dormitory for Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology under the University of Dhaka[5]
- Sultana Kamal Gymnasium - a gymnasium for the students of University of Khulna[citation needed]
- Sultana Kamal bridge - a bridge at Demra.[6]
References
- ^ "In Memoriam: The victims of August 15". Samakal. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ Hoque, Shishir (15 August 2015). "Before going to Germany on July 31, 1975, I asked Sheikh Kamal ..." Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Sultana Kamal awards given". The Daily Star. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Nat'l athletics from today". The Daily Star. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "New DU Female Dormitory Named 'Athlete Sultana Kamal Hall'". eduicon.com. 4 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "PM opens Sultana Kamal Bridge". The Daily Star. 27 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
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