The 28th death anniversary of journalist and banker Khairul Kabir will be observed on Friday.
The late Khairul Kabir, the Founding Editor of The Daily Sangbad and the first Life Member of the Jatiya Press Club, was passed away in Singapore on February 7, 1997, due to age-related ailments.
In the banking sector, he was a major shareholder, Vice Chairman, and CEO of The Union Bank Ltd., formerly known as the Bank of Tripura, Assam & Bengal, one of the oldest banks registered in India. He also served as the Executive Vice President (East Pakistan) of the United Bank of Pakistan, Director of the Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, and the first Chairman and Managing Director of Janata Bank. Additionally, he was a Fellow of the American Bankers Association.
Mr. Kabir was one of the authors of the historic Six-Point Movement, which laid the foundation for East Pakistan�s demand for autonomy. He was a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Khan Abdus Sabur Khan, National Professor Abdur Razzak, Tafazzal Hossain Manik Miah, KaziAnwarulHaq, Dr. Mahmud Hussain, and other prominent Bengali figures.
In 1955, the United States Government selected him for its Leadership Programme, which he successfully completed.
Beyond banking and politics, Mr. Kabir played a significant role in promoting art and culture. He was one of the founders of the Pakistan Art Council (now Shilpakala Academy) and a key sponsor of ShilpacharyaZainul Abedin, IsmatChughtai, Habibur Rahman, S.M. Sultan, and others. He also established the country�s first Color Cine Film Laboratory and was the first Managing Director of the Film Development Corporation.
In sports, he was the President of the Pakistan Basketball Federation and a member of the Construction Committee for Dhaka Stadium (now Bangabandhu Stadium). He also founded the East Pakistan Flying Club and the Dhaka University Officers Club.
Mr. Kabir hailed from the illustrious Kabir family of Ghorasal and was laid to rest in the family graveyard. On this occasion, a Milad Mehfil has been organized at his ancestral home in Ghorasal to pray for the salvation of his soul.
