At the closing ceremony of the ‘Mirza Ruhul Amin Memorial’ T20 cricket tournament on Friday (20th June) afternoon, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for national unity and stronger support for sports at the local level.
Speaking at Shaheed Mohammad Ali Stadium, Fakhrul said the country is now at a turning point. He reflected on recent political movements and the sacrifices made by students and young citizens.
“This moment offers a fresh opportunity,” he said. “We’ve lost many lives. Many students have sacrificed. We respect them deeply.”
He added that these events have created space for rebuilding democratic institutions.
“Our duty is to rebuild this country,” he said. “Not for someone else. It’s ours.”
Local Sports as a Unifying Force
Mirza Fakhrul shared personal memories tied to the stadium and the district’s sporting history. He recalled hosting meetings at the District Sports Council building and watching games on shared satellite connections in the past.
Now, he said, Thakurgaon has produced players who are competing in Dhaka’s top divisions. He praised this growth and urged locals to support young talent regardless of political affiliation.
“Let’s stop dividing by party lines,” he said. “Choose people with ability to lead sports organizations.”
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Memories and Future Hopes
Fakhrul remembered former players and figures from the local cricket scene, including Rashed and Barakallah, noting their continued involvement in national sports.
He mentioned a time when local players built their own pitches by hand. Matches in Thakurgaon once attracted top Bangladeshi players—and even visitors from Sri Lanka.
“I hope we can bring back zonal matches,” he said. “Maybe even host national team games again.”
Support for Organizers and Sponsors
He closed by thanking those behind the tournament, praising their efforts for making it a success.
“I sincerely thank those who made this happen,” he said. “Let’s all commit ourselves—just as we pledge to rebuild our country, let’s also commit to lifting up cricket.”
The event drew a local crowd and ended with prize distribution for the final match of the tournament.
