Jhantu laid to rest

Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, the first mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, was laid to eternal rest at his family graveyard in Rangpur city yesterday with state honours.

He died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital on Sunday. 

Body of this freedom fighter was flown to his home in Guptapara area of Rangpur city around 12:30pm. Zahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary of Awami League, was with the dead body.

A large number of people, including politicians, socio-cultural activists and former colleagues of the deceased rushed to his residence to pay their last tribute.

Later, his body was kept on Rangpur Police Lines ground around 4:00pm so that people from all strata can pay their last tribute to the former mayor. His second namaz-e-janaza was held there.

A guard of honour was accorded to the noted freedom fighter before his burial.

Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, the incumbent mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, said the loss of Jhantu is irreparable. “My heart goes out to his family,” he said. 

Rangpur people lost a dedicated politician, said Tushar Khanti Mondal, AL general secretary of Rangpur city unit. Jhantu was the advisory member of Rangpur district AL.

Mozaffar Hossain, president of Rangpur city BNP unit, said, “Our political ideologies were different, but we both were close to each other.” 

Mosaddek Hossain Bablu, commander of Rangpur Muktijoddha Sangsad, said he had many memories with the deceased during the liberation war in 1971. “May Allah help his family overcome the shock,” said the freedom fighter.

Born on July 7, 1952, Jhantu joined politics in early 1980s. He became an upazila chairman in 1987. Later, in 1992 and 1998 he was elected as chairman of Rangpur Municipality. In 1996, he contested national election and was elected as the lawmaker of Rangpur-1 (Gangachara).

Jhantu served as the first mayor of Rangpur City Corporation for 5 years since 2012. He also contested the mayoral election held on December 21 last year with AL nomination, but he lost to Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, a Jatiya Party (JP) candidate.