Language veteran Abdul Malek passes away

Khandakar Abdul Malek Shahidullah, a Language Movement veteran, died at his Nandibari house in Muktagachha, Mymensingh yesterday, aged 85.

He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers.

Malek had been suffering from different old age complications, family sources said.

He will be buried with state honour at Muktagacha Municipal graveyard after a namaz-e-janaza on Nandibari ground around 11am today.

A former member of the provincial assembly, Shahidullah was also an organiser of the Liberation War. He was also organising secretary of Awami League in greater Mymensingh when Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam was its president.

Born to Khandakar Abdul Mannan and late Korimon Nessa Khanam on February 21 in 1936, Malek was only 17 in 1952 when the Language Movement broke out. He was a ninth-grader at that time. He and eight of his fellows were expelled from Cooperative High School in Dewanganj, Jamalpur for taking part in a procession.

But all except Malek got back to their studentship seeking apology. His medical officer father did not allow him to apologise, and eventually his education life stopped forever, said family sources.

Malek was also elected mayor of Muktagachha municipality in 1997.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and former law minister Abdul Matin Khoshru, also AL presidium member, expressed their deep shock at the death.