Arafat Hasan of DOT :
The second namaz-e-janaza of the veteran Awami League leader Syed Ashraful Islam was held at the historic Sholakia ground in Kishoreganj yesterday.
Thousands of Ashraf’s colleagues, supporters and well-wishers gathered on the prayer grounds to pray for the departed soul of the former Awami League general secretary. The first namaz-e-janaza was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
After the janaza was held around 10:30am, Syed Ashraful was given the “Guard of Honor” on the Jatiya Sangsad premises.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also attended the namaz-e-janaza to pay their respects and final farewells. Flanked with party leaders, the premier also placed a floral wreath on behalf of Awami League on the coffin.
A milad and doa mahfil for the departed soul will be held on Tuesday at his official residence on Bailey Road in the capital, according to a press release. Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader requested all to attend the milad and doa mahfil.
A Biman Bangladesh flight carrying the body of Syed Ashraf, public administration minister and AL Presidium member, reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 6:00pm on Saturday.
Tributes and condolences have been pouring in from all quarters for the AL leader. His death came as shock to the countrymen, irrespective of their political affiliation.
A veteran leader, who stood by his party through good times and bad, Syed Ashraf breathed his last at the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok on Thursday at the age of 68.
Son of Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of Mujibnagar government, Ashraf had been suffering from lung cancer for a long time. He was flown to Thailand for treatment in July last year.
His death came just four days after he was elected MP in Kishoreganj-1. He had been a parliamentarian in the constituency since 1996.
Syed Ashraful Islam left behind his only daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death. His wife Shila Islam died of cancer at a London hospital in October last year.