East Bengal club accords reception to Sayem Sobhan Anvir in Kolkata

Century-old Indian professional football club SC East Bengal accorded a reception to Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and Chairman of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited, on the club premises in Kolkata on Thursday. It also awarded lifetime membership to Sayem Sobhan Anvir for his outstanding contribution to the sports arena. The famous red-yellow East Bengal jersey was also handed over to him at the grand ceremony. Sabrina Sobhan, Director of Bashundhara Group and wife of Sayem Sobhan Anvir, was also present on the occasion. East Bengal club presented the couple with jerseys, shawls, a gold coin of the club, fruits, sweets, Panjabi and Sari. East Bengal club’s secretary Kalyan Majumdar handed over the membership kit to Sayem Sobhan Anvir while the gold coin was handed over by club’s assistant general secretary Rupak Saha and executive committee member Debabrata Sarkar. Later, a group photo session was held. East Bengal vice-president Santi Ranjan Dasgupta, All India Football Federation senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, Bangladesh Football Federation first vice-president Md Imrul Hassan and other top officials of Bashundhara Group were present there. Club president Dr Pranab Dasgupta could not attend the programme as he was out of station. Addressing the programme, Sayem Sobhan Anvir said, “I always consider East Bengal club as my own. We want that sports lovers of the two countries come closer in future,” he said. About the grand reception, he said, “You’ve not only impressed me with your sincerity, but also bound me with the bandage of love giving me the lifetime membership of the club. I never expected to be welcomed in such a grand and well-organised manner. The way you have accorded the reception to me, I’ll arrange a similar programme and invite you all (East Bengal) to play in Bangladesh.” While speaking about Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, Sayem Sobhan Anvir said, “The club has been named after Sheikh Russel, the youngest child of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the chief adviser of this club. She has given me the responsibility to run this club. I’m also getting full cooperation from her.” He also expressed the hope of arranging a football match between Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and East Bengal soon, saying he will sponsor the march.