Condolences pour in for Priyabhashini

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday mourned the death of noted sculptor and freedom fighter Ferdousi Priyabhashini.

In separate condolence messages, they expressed profound shock at her death, and prayed for the eternal peace of her departed soul.

They also conveyed sympathy to her bereaved family members.

The president, in his message, recalled the outstanding contributions of Priyabhashini to the country's Liberation War in 1971 and expressed due respect to her. “The nation will remember her contributions to the Liberation War…,” he said.

The prime minister said, “The nation has lost a valiant freedom fighter through her death.” She also said her demise is an irreparable loss to the country.

Priyabhashini died of a cardiac arrest at Labaid Hospital in the capital yesterday afternoon at the age of 70. She was admitted to the hospital last month with kidney complications. She had been suffering from orthopaedic problems, doctors said.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Shahriar Kabir said Priyabhashini was the mouthpiece of all women tortured during the Liberation War.

“She worked not only for the tortured women but also for building a national consensus to try the war criminals,” he said while talking to journalists at the hospital.

“Her death creates a vacuum in the society and no one can fulfil it…,” Shahriar said.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, ministers, lawmakers, rights activists, war crimes trial campaigners and social organisations also mourned her death.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Law Minister Anisul Huq, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque, Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, and Sammilito Samajik Andolon, were among them.