Anisuzzaman laid to rest

National Professor Anisuzzaman was laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard with state honour yesterday morning.

Tributes for the country's leading intellectual poured in soon after the news of his death was announced on Thursday.

The burial took place around 10:00am after a namaz-e-janaza and guard of honour given by officials at the graveyard.

"My father was laid to rest in the grave of my grandfather," said the national professor's son Ananda Zaman.

Since Prof Anisuzzaman died with coronavirus, the burial adhered to the health guidelines.

Besides Ananda, the professor's brother Akteruzzaman and son-in-law Azimul Haq were present during the burial. Also present were State Minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid and Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair.

The final rituals and the burial were carried out as planned by the Prime Minister's Office.

The scholar and leading intellectual breathed his last at Combined Military Hospital at the age of 83.

TRIBUTES POUR IN

About Prof Anisuzzaman, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Facebook said, "One of our region's leading intellectuals and a true secularist who gave meaning to having an educated mind..."

Nihad Kabir, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a statement said, "The country has lost one of its brightest luminaries in the education sector and a valiant freedom fighter in the passing away of National Professor Anisuzzaman… MCCI prays for the eternal salvation of the departed soul of Professor Anisuzzaman and conveys deep sympathies to his bereaved family."

The Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation in a condolence message said it will deeply miss his leadership.

"Dr Anisuzzaman's departure is an irreparable loss to the nation. The usual metaphors (tower of strength, pillar of the national community, a lighthouse to others, and so on) may be applicable, but is perhaps inadequate for he transcended them.

"As a distinguished scholar he educated us, as a truly enlightened human being he encouraged us, and with his humility, compassion and moral authority, he inspired us. He had received numerous honors and awards in his life, but perhaps much more important to him was the fact that he had won the admiration and the warm regard of almost all who came to know him."

"The Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation will deeply miss his leadership (he was our founding vice president and settler)," it said in a message.

Ganosanghati Andolan, Ain o Salish Kendra, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, also paid tributes in separate messages.

Anisuzzman was a freedom fighter and was a member of the Planning Commission of Bangladesh during the Liberation War.

He was awarded Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Padak, the highest state awards given by the government of Bangladesh.

The Government of India bestowed on him the country's third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan.