Samad Azad laid to rest

Coffin of Abdus Samad Azad draped in the national flag is kept at Banani graveyard as policemen play the last post to honour the veteran politician yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Abdus Samad Azad, the country's first foreign minister and veteran politician, was laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard in the capital yesterday with state honour as thousands of people paid last tributes to the late Awami League (AL) central leader and lawmaker.

The body of the leader was lowered into the grave at 6:50 pm. Mourners stood in silence beside his coffin covered with the national flag and party flag in front of the graveyard earlier as bugles played the last post in tribute to him as a freedom fighter.

A police contingent presented a guard of honour in reverence to his contributions to the Liberation War.

Bereaved family members, party colleagues and hundreds of others attended his burial.

Earlier several namaj-e-janazas for him were held in Dhaka, Sylhet and Sunamganj. People from all walks of life bade him the last farewell in a melancholic atmosphere.

Samad Azad, also a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the long struggle for the country's independence, died on Wednesday, aged 79, suffering from stomach cancer.

The first namaj-e-janaza was held at the capital's Paltan Maidan, where the veteran politician made so many speeches at public meetings during his long chequered political career. His body was flown to Sylhet in a helicopter, then to his ancestral village home in Sunamganj and brought back to Dhaka after several janazas there.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, ministers, leaders of different political parties, intellectuals, academics, lawyers and leading citizens and general people joined the namaz-e-jananza at Paltan Maidan at 10:55 am.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, and Science and ICT Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan were among the ministers present.

Participants included former prime minister Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, AL leaders Abdul Jalil, Abdur Razzak, Amir Hossain Amu and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Gono Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain, CPB leaders Monjurul Ashan Khan and Mujahidul Islam Selim, Workers Party leader Rashed Khan Menon, JSD leader ASM Rab, Barrister Amirul Islam, Justice KM Sobhan, former finance minister AMA Muhith, JSD leader Sharif Nurul Ambia and Prof AK Azad Chowdhury.

The body draped in the national flag and party flag was then taken to Tejgaon helipad and flown to Sylhet and Sunamganj. At the helipad, a floral wreath was placed on the coffin on behalf of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Earlier in the morning, party colleagues, leaders of other parties, heads of diplomatic missions in Dhaka and hundreds of others thronged the Kalabagan residence of Samad Azad and paid homage to him.

Leader of the Opposition and AL President Sheikh Hasina along with senior party leaders went to the leader's residence at about 8:45 am. She used to call him "chacha" (uncle) and always considered him as a guardian and a trusted party colleague.

Hasina placed wreaths on the coffin, stood in solemn silence and offered munajat.

A group of diplomats led by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Shahta Zarab also placed wreaths and signed on condolence book.

Former chief adviser to the caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman, Abdul Moyeen Khan, former president and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also visited Azad's residence.

His body was taken to the party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue at about 10.10 am. Party leaders and workers paid homage to him there.

Our staff correspondent in Sylhet reports: Thousands of people joined the janaza of Samad Azad at the government Alia Madrasa ground after Johr prayers.

Imam of Hajrat Shahjalal (RA) Shrine mosque Hafij Akbar Ali led the janaza.

Earlier, the leader's son Azizus Samad, the opposition chief whip Abdus Shahid and Sylhet city mayor Badruddin Ahmad Kamran briefly addressed the gathering.

Leaders of different political parties attended the janaza held in an inclement weather.

Later, floral wreaths were placed on the coffin by different political parties including the AL and BNP, and social organisations.

The body was then flown to his home district Sunamganj, where a janaza was held. Another janaza was held in the leader's constituency Jagannathpur upazila.

The programme of holding another janaza at his village was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Black flags were hoisted atop all houses at Jagannathpur and businesses kept their shutters down for an hour in tribute to the late leader.

Qulkhwani on Monday
Qulkhwani of the leader will be held at his Kalabagan residence on Monday after Johr prayers, family members said. His eldest son Azizus Samad has requested all to attend the qulkhwani and pray for salvation of the departed soul.

A milad mehfil and special prayer were held at the foreign ministry yesterday seeking peace for the departed soul of the country's first foreign minister.