Bangabandhu 6th National Fencing Competition inaugurated

The inaugural program of Bangabandhu 6th National Fencing Competition was held in Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in the capital's Mirpur 10 on Wednesday.

Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury MP was scheduled to grace the inaugural program as the chief guest but he could not attend the event because of remaining occupied with the Parliament's budget session. Later on Lieutenant General (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.

Lieutenant General (Retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled said that fencing was once upon a time an unfamiliar game in Bangladesh but during last few years people all over the country have come to know about fencing through the dynamic efforts and competent leadership of BFF President Shoeb Chowdhury. Sheikh Mamun 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 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 called upon the authorities concerned to attach more importance to indoor games, mentioning that Bangladeshi players have brought more honour and glory for the country from different international contests in the indoor games category compared to outdoor games.

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. He stated that there is only one indoor stadium inside Dhaka city. He laid emphasis on building up another indoor stadium inside the capital so that indoor players including fencers have a specific space for practicing.

AKM Shameem Chowdhury, former Press Secretary to the Prime Minister said that Bangladeshis are a heroic nation who succeeded to release 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 the 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.

Additional IGP SM Ruhul Amin said that Bangladesh has made a great deal of progress since independence. Bangladesh has even exceeded Pakistan and some other South Asian countries on different indexes during last several years, SM Ruhul Amin added. He expressed hope that Bangladeshi fencers will be able to further boost their skills and raise the country's dignity on the global stage in days to come.

Crests and flowers were handed over to the chief guest, special guest and guests of honour by fencers during the inaugural program. The closing ceremony and prize distribution program of the above fencing contest will be held at the same venue on 9 June 2024.