MV Hamza – The name of this rescue vessel is more or less known to many. It comes as a savior when a shipwreck occurs in the country. It has the power to lift a sinking vehicle with a force of 60 tons. Similarly, Hamza Chowdhury is coming to the football of the sinking country today. He is the 'Destroyer' to the regular viewers of the English Premier League. This devastating defensive midfielder with shaggy hair is very skilled at thwarting the opponent's attacks. The Leicester City Hamza is currently playing for Sheffield on loan. After handling that responsibility for the club, he has now taken on the responsibility of his motherland Bangladesh. He will make his debut in the red-green jersey in the Asian Cup qualifier against India in Shillong on March 25. Hamza Chowdhury is coming to advance Bangladesh's FIFA ranking, which is at number 183, restore its superiority in the South Asian region and earn respect in front of its opponents. This is the first time that a footballer playing in the English league has arrived in the Bangladesh team. So the people of his birthplace, Snanghat, Habiganj are ready to welcome him.
He had come to his village home many times before. At that time, Hamza Dewan Chowdhury was known as 'Englishman'. Even though he went to the village with a colorful hairstyle and colorful clothes under the name of his Bangladeshi mother Rafia Chowdhury, the people of Snanghat in Bahubal Upazila of Habiganj, Sylhet knew him as a foreigner! The reason is natural, Hamza, a British expatriate at that time, did not become Bangladeshi. After going through many ups and downs, the footballer became the center of discussion only after becoming Bangladeshi on paper last year. Last December, FIFA allowed Hamza to wear the red-green jersey while playing for former Premier League champion Leicester City. Then the countdown began. When will the 27-year-old Sheffield United star come to Bangladesh? That wait is coming to an end today. He will land at Sylhet International Airport at 11:40 am on Monday with a Bangladeshi passport in hand. From there, he will go directly to his village by car. Hamza is going to his village after 11 years. His arrival is causing a frenzy among football fans in the country.
Expatriate footballers like Jamal Bhuiyan and Tariq Kazi have appeared in Bangladesh. But this is the first time a world-class star like Hamza has appeared in Bangladesh. Hamza's career profile, which includes playing for not only Leicester City but also the England Under-21 national football team, is also high-level. He can also be called a global star of football. No such big star has emerged in Bangladeshi football. To put it mildly, Hamza is now the biggest star in the country's sports arena! That is why the Bangladesh Football Federation has been preparing hard for him for a few days. Before arriving in Sylhet today, he took the field against Sheffield Wednesday for the English Championship club Sheffield United yesterday. Hamza left for Bangladesh with all the preparations after returning from the field. He will spend the night in his village Habiganj tonight. Hamza is scheduled to return to Dhaka on the evening of March 18. The defender is likely to face the media in a team photo session on March 19.
Reception to be announced at Sylhet Airport
Sylhet and Habiganj are all set for Hamza. Four BFF executive members have already reached Sylhet to welcome Hamza. Mukit Rahmani from the Sylhet Bureau said that sports enthusiasts and young footballers of Sylhet will welcome Hamza at the airport. Several arches were built at his village house along the Sylhet Airport Road in anticipation of Hamza's arrival yesterday. However, there is no program in Sylhet, he will be given a reception by the Bahubali of Habiganj. After getting off Osmani Airport, Hamza will go directly to Bahubali. The police will escort him from Sylhet. Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Saiful Islam said that Hamza will be provided security by the police. He will be escorted across the city. Similarly, the district police will also provide him security on the road.
Festive atmosphere in Snanaghat
A festive atmosphere prevails in the entire district, including his village Snanaghat, surrounding Hamza's arrival. Habiganj representative Russell Chowdhury said that Hamza's village is in full swing. The entire area is covered with banners, festoons and arches congratulating him. The villagers are ready to welcome the talented child of their area. Hamza is coming to his village home with his mother, brother, wife and three children. Father Dewan Murshed Chowdhury has already left.
Hamza, who has a calm and humble nature, has spread fame in his sports career and is also very popular with the common people of the village. That is why Hamza is also repaying their trust. He has built a Hafiziya Madrasa in his village home Snanaghat. Where orphan children are studying. Talking to family members, it was learned that Hamza Chowdhury is coming to the country after almost 11 years. Family members said that rice and beef are his favorite food. He also likes local vegetables. They said that several types of meat are being served in Hamza's menu. And he will sleep at night in his ancestral house. In this regard, a person named Safar Ali said, 'The son of our village will represent the country in the national jersey, it is a matter of pride for us. We are excited about his arrival, especially the youth are sitting with great interest to catch a glimpse of him. When Hamza used to come home when he was young, I also played football with him. He was attracted to football since childhood.' Hamza's father Dewan Murshed Chowdhury wants to see not only Hamza, but more expatriate footballers like him play for Bangladesh.
Hamza Chowdhury finally arrived in Bangladesh after the wait. The plane carrying Hamza landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at around 11:30 Bangladesh time. He has visited his home country Bangladesh many times before. However, this time his arrival is different. This time he has not only come as a son of Sylhet, but as a member of the Bangladesh national football team.