Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui passes away

Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui, one of the key organisers of the Liberation War in 1971 and a former lawmaker, has passed away at the age of 82.

The veteran politician died early today while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in the capital, his press secretary Aniket Rajesh told The Daily Star

He was a former lawmaker of Jhenidah-2.

Nur-e-Alam's body was taken to Jhenidah by helicopter where his first namaz-janaza will be held after Zohr prayers.

His body will then be brought back to Azad Mosque in the capital's Gulshan where his second namaz-e-janaza will be held.

At this time Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui will be given a "guard of honour". He will then be buried next to the mosque he built in Savar, added Aniket Rajesh.

Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui played an active role in all the political activities surrounding Bangladesh's independence, including participation in the six-point movement and the Language Movement.

On March 1, 1971, he played a leading role in the formation of Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad along with student leaders like Sirajul Alam Khan, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, Abdur Razzak, Kazi Aref Ahmed, Tofail Ahmed, Abdul Quddus Makhan, Shahjahan Siraj, ASM Abdur Rob and others.

Siddiqui has held assignments as the Central Committee President of Bangladesh Chhatra League, as well as the Founder Secretary General of Bangladesh Jubo League.

Siddiqui was elected Member of Parliament from the then Jashore-2 Constituency as a candidate of Bangladesh Awami League in the first national parliamentary election of 1973 and subsequently, became member of the Bangladesh Constitution formation committee as well as served as the Chairman of various Parliamentary Standing Committees' from 1973 to 1975. .

Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui participated in the 1996 seventh and 2001 eighth parliamentary elections as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate from Jhenidah-2 constituency.