The Bengal Chess Club (BCC), defending champions of the Premier Division Chess League, begins its official journey today with the quest of giving concrete shape to the vision of Professor Abdur Razzak, a prominent academic, intellectual, educationalist and chess lover.

Professor Razzak was the founding vice-president of Bangladesh Chess Federation as well as the an active chess player, who finished second in the inaugural national chess championship in 1974 and was one of six-member chess squad in Bangladesh's first-ever overseas participation in 1976.

"Sir [Abdur Razzak] was a chess lover and player. He was involved in setting up the chess federation. His love and dedication towards the game inspired us to form the club," explained Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Foundation's director general Dr Ahrar Ahmed at an official press conference at Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Bidyapeeth in Dhanmondi yesterday.

"When we were thinking of giving shape to his beloved sport of chess, we coincidentally met sub-continent's first Grand Master Niaz Murshed who once played with Abdur Razzak, and we formed the Bengal Chess Club in the latter part of last year," he added.

Niaz Murshed informed that the BCC will be training potential chess players twice a week on Fridays and Saturdays and there will be no entry fee for becoming a member of the club.

"I believe such an initiative will revive country's chess," said Murshed, who is also director of BCC.

Sports and youth secretary Ashadul Islam, Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Foundation's trustee board member Dr Hameeda Hossain and Bengal Foundation's chairman Abul Khair Litu were also present at the press conference.