Former land minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif passes away

Former land minister and lawmaker of Pabna-4 constituency, Shamsur Rahman Sherif passed away early today at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 80.

He breathed his last at 5:00am at the United Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for the last few months, said Abul Kalam Azad Mintu, son-in-law of Sherif and mayor of Ishwardi municipality.

Sherif had been suffering from cancer, kidney disease, and old age complications for long.

His first namaj-e-janaza will be held in Dhaka. Later, the mortal remains will be taken to his native village, said Mintu.

He was likely to be buried at the Lakhmikunda graveyard in Ishwardi upazila, Mintu told The Daily Star.

Sherif was elected five consecutive times in Pabna-4 constituency (Ishwardi-Atghoria upazila). He had also been the president of Pabna district unit of Awami League for the last 16 years.

He has left behind four sons, five daughters, and a number of well-wishers and political colleagues to mourn his death.

Born at Lakhmikunda village in 1940, Sherif joined politics at a young age.

He took part in 1952 Language Movement when he was a student in Pabna Zila School. He organised freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971 and also directly took part in it.