Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled Sunday to hand over the National Sports Awards for the years of 2010, 2011, 2012, officials at the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Thirty-two persons will be given the awards for their outstanding contribution and performance in Bangladesh’s sport sector. The award handing award will be arranged at the Osmani Memorial Hall in Dhaka.

Slain Sheikh Kamal and country`s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan are among the persons will be honoured with the awards, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency.

Kamal, a glittering star in sports arena during the post-independence period and the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been selected for the National Sports Award (posthumously) for 2011, while Shakib Al Hasan has been selected for the award for 2012, the agency said.

Kamal was assassinated along with Bangabandhu and most of his family by a group of derailed military officers under a well-orchestrated plot on August 15 in 1975.

The founder of the country’s leading sports club Abahani Krira Chakra, Sheikh Kamal used to play cricket in first division for Azad Boys Club and basketball too in first division for Spurs Club.

The National Sports Award, introduced in 1976, is the highest honour bestowed upon a sports personality.

A total of 188 sports persons so far have been given the award, which includes 19 cricketers.

Before Shakib, ICC Trophy winning captain Akram Khan received the award in 1998 while Mohammad Rafique, the architect of country’s first-ever one-day international win, got the national award in 2006.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Masud will also receive the award for the year 2011.

The recipients of national sports award for 2010 are: Harun-Ur-Rashid (swimming), Atiqur Rahman (shooting), Mahmuda Begum (athletics), Dewan Md. Nazrul Islam (gymnastics), Mizanur Rahman Manu (organiser), ASM Ali Kabir (organiser), Md. Tokbir Hossain (swimming, posthumously), Farid Khan Chowdhury (athletics), Neli Jesmine (athletics) and Nipa Bosh (athletics, Autistic).

The recipients of national sports award for 2011 are: Rowshan Ara Chobi (gymnastics), Md. Kanchon Ali (boxing), Md. Ashraf Ali (wrestling), Helena Khan Eva (volleyball), Khaled Masud Pilot (cricket), Robiul Islam (bodybuilding), Jumman Lusai (hockey, posthumously), Kutubuddin Mohammad Aksir (organiser), Ashikur Rahman Miku (organiser) and Saheed Sheikh Kamal (athletics and organiser, posthumously.

The recipients of national sports award for 2012 are: Shakib Al Hasan (cricket), Md. Mohsin (football), Khurshid Babul (football), Ashish Bhadra (football), Abdul Gaffar (football), Sattyajit Das Rupu (football), Firoza Khatun (athletics), Nazia Akter Juthi (badminton), Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal (organiser), Mamunur Rashid (hockey), Salma Rafique (organiser, posthumously) and Nurul Alam Chowdhury (organiser).

newsnextbd.com/n