Sanjay lights up logo unveiling

The logo of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open was unveiled through a colourful ceremony at the Kurmitola Golf Club yesterday, where Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt reminisced fond memories about Bangladesh and the Bangabandhu family.

The 59-year-old star of the silver screen was a special guest at the occasion where Chief of Army Staff and Bangladesh Golf Federation's (BGF) president General Aziz Ahmed, Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, BGF's senior vice-president Enayet Ullah, BGF's secretary general Sayeed Siddiqui, sponsors National Bank's directors Ron Haque Shikder and Rick Haque Shikder were present among others.

"My father [Sunil Dutt] and father of the nation of Bangladesh [Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman] were friends," Dutt said in his short speech during the programme.

"My father and his team came to Dhaka after the liberation war. Bangladesh has always been a special place for me. I will be here again whenever I am called," the Bollywood star of Munna Bhai MBBS fame told the audience.

BGF secretary general Sayeed Siddiqui informed that a total of 156 golfers from 22 countries, including 46 from Bangladesh -- 40 professionals and six amateurs -- are expected to participate in the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open, which will be held from April 3 to 6.

"We all know about our golfing icon, two-time Asian Tour winner Siddikur Rahman. This event will offer him and others another opportunity to brighten the image of the country to the rest of the world," Siddiqui said.

The golf officials are expecting better results from the locals from the previous years, with Sajib Ali and Jamal Hossain Mollah tipped to do well alongside Siddikur.

Bangladesh is hosting the Asian Tour event for the fifth consecutive time. The first three editions were titled Bashundhara Bangladesh Open while the fourth edition had the title AB Bank Bangladesh Open. Golfers from Singapore, Thailand and Sweden have previously scooped the title of this prestigious event where Bangladesh's best so far was Siddikur's second-place finish in 2017.