Sahara Khatun laid to rest at Banani graveyard

Former home minister Sahara Khatun was laid to rest at Banani graveyard in Dhaka today.

Sahara Khatun, a presidium member of Awami League, was buried at her mother's grave around 12 noon.

Earlier, her first namaz-e-janaza was held at Baitul Sharif Jam-e-Mosque near her residence in Agargaon area around 10:00am and later, the second one at Banani Jam-e-Mosque.

Many AL leaders and activists Including Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal; Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan; Awami League presidium members Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman; two mayors of Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh; AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, attended the second namaz-e-janaza maintaining social distance.

Floral wreaths were placed on her coffin on behalf of President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League.

Later, her dead body was covered with national and Awami League party flags in honour of her contribution to upholding the country's independence and sovereignty, and establishing democracy.

Earlier, a special flight of US-Bangla Airlines, carrying her body, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Bangkok around 1:40am today.

Sahara Khatun, a lawmaker from Dhaka-18 constituency, died at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok at 11:25pm (local time) on July 9. She was 77.

She was a key figure among those who led the Awami League during difficult times and who remained by the side of party chief Sheikh Hasina through thick and thin for decades.

She was taken to Bangkok on Monday by an air ambulance.

Sahara Khatun was born in Dhaka's Kurmitola on March 1, 1943. Her parents were Abdul Aziz and Turjan Nesa.

Sahara was one of the forefront fighters as a lawyer involved in the legal battle and also on the streets to free Sheikh Hasina.

In the 2008 national election, Sahara became an MP for the first time from Dhaka-18 constituency.

Giving a surprise to many, Sheikh Hasina included Sahara in her cabinet as minister for home affairs. Later, in a cabinet reshuffle in 2012, she was relieved of her duties as the home minister and made the minister of posts and telecommunications.