Jamal sees football from a different perspective

Bangladesh national football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan experienced football from a different perspective during a surprise visit to Camp Abilities Bangladesh 2025 at the Riya Gope Women's Sports Complex in Dhanmondi.

Blindfolded, the midfielder joined visually impaired children on the pitch, taking part in the game without sight and engaging directly with the campers. The visit became a key moment of the three-day inclusive sports camp, held from December 11 to 13, and reflected the camp's theme, "Sports Without Limits".

Jamal interacted with around 50 young participants and later said: "Visually impaired or people with any disabilities should be able to participate in sports and all aspects of life. They are part of the society and we should not ignore their plight to be included." He noted that the experience gave him a deeper understanding of the resilience and determination shown by the children.

The camp was organised by Heroes for All (HFA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Assistance for Blind Children (ABC). This was the second edition of the initiative, following its first outing in January 2018. According to HFA founder and president Dr. Rehnuma Karim, the camp aimed to challenge stigma around visual impairment and provide children with a space to build confidence through sports. She also highlighted the role of the camp in developing leadership and empathy among its 44 counselors.

The programme featured adapted versions of cricket, football, goalball and paired races, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Lauren Lieberman, founder of Camp Abilities USA, and Dr. Melissa Bittner, with support from Sanowar Ahmed and Mahmudul Haque Rony. Each child was paired with a counselor or volunteer to ensure one-on-one support.

The Daily Star was one of the media partners for the event.