He will live on through his work
National Professor Rafiqul Islam emerged as a polymath and pioneering scholar through his work across diverse fields. Long after his demise, he will remain alive among the people through this work.
Eminent citizens as well as people from all walks of life made these remarks as Rafiul Islam was laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard, near his father's grave, yesterday noon.
In the morning, his body was taken to Bangla Academy -- where he served as chairperson until his death -- and then to Central Shaheed Minar for people to pay their last tributes to the national professor.
Md Abul Monsur, secretary of the ministry of cultural affairs, Bangla Academy director general poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, and several organisations including Kabi Nazrul Institute, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee, Kazi Nazrul University (Asansol, India), National University and Bangladesh Writers' Club paid their homage to his remains at Bangla Academy premises yesterday.
His son Barshan Islam told The Daily Star, "My father wanted to see three events before his death: the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, and Dhaka University's centenary celebration. Today, Dhaka University is celebrating its 100 year-anniversary, but my father can only attend as a corpse."
A patriot through and through, Rafiqul rejected his family's wishes to take him abroad for treatment, Barshan said.
On behalf of the president, Maj Gen SM Salahuddin Islam, military secretary to the president, paid respect to the late professor at the Central Shaheed Minar, where various sociocultural organisations and lawmakers paid their homage as well.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury, military secretary to the prime minister, paid respect on her behalf, while AL general secretary Obaidul Quader paid respect on behalf of the party.
"After losing Anis sir (Professor Dr Anisuzzaman) and Rafiq sir, we have truly lost all of our intellectual guardians," Quader said. "Prof Rafiq acted as our lighthouse during all struggles, from the movement for self-determination and Liberation War to the movement for democracy."
Prof Dr Akhtaruzzaman, vice chancellor of Dhaka University, said, "Prof Rafiqul Islam played an important role in building the secular Bengali ideology. He guided our nation from the front during all of our crises."
Khilkhil Kazi, granddaughter of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, said Prof Rafiqul will be remembered for his research on Nazrul's works.
From Shaheed Minar, his remains were taken to the central mosque of DU where the second namaz-e-janaza was held.
On Tuesday, Rafiqul Islam breathed his last at Dhaka's Evercare hospital. His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Uttara Sector-10 Mosque around 10:00pm on the night.
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