Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan laid to rest

BNP chairperson's advisory council member and four-time former lawmaker Ziaur Rahman Khan was laid to rest at Dhaka's Banani graveyard yesterday.

Ziaur, also a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, died of coronavirus on Saturday at the age of 75. He breathed his last around 10pm at Impulse Hospital in the capital.

Ziaur is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

Hailing from the village of Balia, Ziaur was elected MP four times -- in 1991, twice in 1996 and in 2001 from Dhaka-20 constituency (Dhamrai) with BNP's ticket.

He resided at Dhanmondi-7.

Following breathing and other complications, Ziaur was admitted to the Impulse Hospital. Later, he was diagnosed positive for Covid-19,said family sources.

He breathed his last after suffering a stroke.

Ziaur was buried following three namaz-e-janazas at Dhamrai.

Earlier, a namaz-e-janaza was held at a mosque in Dhanmondi. Floral wreaths were placed on behalf of BNP at his coffin and a minute of silence was observed at that time.

BNP leaders AZM Zahid Hossain, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, Nasir Uddin Ashim and Saidur Rahman, among others, were present at the namaz-e-janaza.

In his early life, Ziaur was a journalist and worked for The Pakistan Observer. His weekly write up "Talk of the Town" became a very popular column, which he wrote as Zia Omar.

In 1970, he went to study law in London and became a barrister. He returned home in 1977 and started practicing law with his renowned lawyer father. He later joined the chamber of Barrister Ishtiaq in the 80s and worked till early 90s.

In 1991, he joined BNP and became an MP in the first election after restoration of democracy with the fall of Ershad regime.

His father, Ataur Rahman Khan, was the chief minister of East Pakistan from September 1956 to 1958 until the promulgation of martial law. Ataur Rahman Khan was also the prime minister of Bangladesh from March 30, 1984 to January 1, 1985 during the rule of HM Ershad.

Ziaur was well known for his sharp and incisive thinking  and a witty presence of mind. He was a very affable person with warm demeanour. He was an engaging conversationalist with tremendous knowledge of contemporary events.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at his death.