It was winter 1988. I had the privilege of operating the first and the only oil well of Bangladesh in Sylhet Gas field at Haripur in Sylhet as Manager (Production) SGFL.
We returned from almost 4 months long extensive on Gas Transmission from Netherlands. Bangladesh discovered first crude oil at Sylhet 7 and I was posted as Manager (Production) by Petrobangla from BGSL. My second Son Shafayet was born while we were in Netherlands. My family was living at Malibagh Dhaka. Hence with a bit reluctance went to join my new assignment having spent on a few days with my family. But no sooner I joined SGFL a very committed young official group made my life enjoyable. We were very excited to run the Oil Field professionally and started making plans for consolidating the achievement.
My senior Chemical Engineer who later did Masters in Petroleum Engineering Engr. Quazi Shahidur Rahman gave me through briefing and hands on training to operate an oil well. He also provided me extensive information of past records of exploration and development of Sylhet Gas Field and in fact all the fields under SGFL. I found some very competent officials like Amir Hossain, Mohsin and others who were excellent professionals. I felt very proud in getting the opportunity to be associated with the operation of the first oil well. I had to manage operation of Koillastilla Gas field and also coordinate with Petrobangla, PIU for development of Beanibazar and Rashidpoor Gas Fields.
There were challenges as well. People of Sylhet and civil society all over the country was agitating against controversial leasing out of oil exploration and development of a wide area of Sylhet to a little known company Scimitar in a very nontransparent manner. I also had reservation about it but as a government employee we had very little alternative but continuing our professional activities.
I planned to keep our professionals apply to their task and with active patronage of my General Manager Mir Nazir Ahmed organized a cricket team developing a good sporting wicket in the playground. With my limited expertize of cricket I fine-tuned a young cricket team drawing players from among our employees and their children. In few weeks we formed a good enough team to challenge first division clubs of Sylhet. At that time I was still active as Sports Writer and was regularly attending different programs of Bangladesh Krira lekhakh samity (BKLS). We planned to invite BKLS cricket for a match cum trip to SGFL.
A team of 20 members BKLS cricket came along with BKLS members and my wife and children from Dhaka by Inter City train. Many of the leading sports journalists and writers who later developed into great writers like Dulal Mahmood, Farhad Tito, Utpal Shuvro, and Nazmul Amin Kiron were at their early days at that time. The team was led by Ziaul Huq Bhai and also had Late Salma Rafiq in the team. I led the SGFL team.
We won the toss and put BKLS to bat. I remember on the turning track with my gentle off spinner I got 4 wickets and could restrict BKLS to less than 100. We won the match by 8 wickets which created lot of joy for the Gas Field people.
On the match day in the evening we had a great cultural program. In a remote area the presence of a very spirited BKLS delegation created lot of enthusiasm. Next morning we went on a memorable visit to Zaflong and Tamabil. First the BKLS team visited the oil well and some historic sites of first gas exploration activities of Gas field. The team was excited to visit the first exploratory well of Sylhet field which ultimately ended up in an unfortunate blow out. The drilling rig sunk in to a crater and for the last four decades gas is bubbling out. The team also visited the location in the hills through the crater of which gas is still burning.
The travel to picturesque Tamabil and Zaflong were memorable. The blue hills, the crystal clear river, water falling from the hill top allured all. The team thoroughly enjoyed it. SGFL also organized delicious meals which were sent out during lunch time. It was 1988. After 26 years Dulal Mahmood Editor EP sent me the photographs which prompted me to unwind my memories.
Salma Apa and Mallick Bhai have expired. Many of us are now thousands of Kilometers away in abroad. Still the photo graphs make us nostalgic. Memory never dies. We all have changed. Many of us are in vulnerable time. Any time may be called back to eternal pavilion. But can memory really die?
I hope Dulal, Shuvro, Kiron, Tito and many others who have time will try to keep the great works of BKLS going in upholding the great fellow feeling among the Sports Writers community of our time.
BDST: 1200 HRS, JUL 31, 2014
