<i>Love-soaked Nurul Islam laid to rest</i>

A contingent of police gives guard of honour to late Ganotantri Party president Nurlul Islam at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday before he was laid to rest at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard. Photo: STAR

Hundreds of people from all walks of life paid tribute to Ganotantri Party president Nurul Islam showering flowers on his coffin at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday.
The coffin of the veteran politician, who succumbed to fatal burn injuries on Thursday afternoon after fighting for life for 36 hours at Combined Military Hospital in the capital, was brought to the Shaheed Minar at 11:45am.
As the coffin arrived at the Shaheed Minar, a police contingent presented a guard of honour to the valiant freedom fighter.
Politicians, cultural personalities and activists, teachers and students gathered at the Shaheed Minar in the morning to bid adieu to him.
Nurul Islam, a nominee of the Awami League-led grand alliance for Noakhali-1 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary election, suffered burns in a mysterious fire at his Lalmatia apartment in the early hours on Wednesday. His only son Tamohar Islam Puchi was burnt alive in the blaze.
Nurul Islam's wife Rubi Rahman and their only daughter Moutusi Islam, who returned to Dhaka from the US in the early hours yesterday, stood in silence beside the coffin at the Shaheed Minar. They broke into tears when they saw their relatives there.
Leaders and activists of various political parties including Awami League (AL), BNP, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Workers' Party, Gono Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Liberal Democratic Party paid floral tribute to the veteran politician.
Ganotantri Party Presidium members and party general secretaries led by its advisory committee president Azizul Islam also paid homage to Nurul Islam.
The party announced a three-day mourning at the death of its president.
Nurul Islam's body was kept at Shaheed Minar until 1:00pm. His body was then brought to the Dhaka University Central Mosque where his first namaj-e-janaza was held after the Jum'a prayers.
He was laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard at Mirpur in the evening after his second namaj-e-janaza on Hazaribagh Leather Technology College Ground at 4:00pm.
AL leaders Abdur Razzak, Matia Chowdhury, BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan and Mahbubul Alam Tara, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu, Journalist Shahriar Kabir, former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal, FBCCI President Annisul Huq, businessman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor SMA Faiz and Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, among others, paid homage to Nurul Islam.
Various organisations including Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangladesh Economic Association, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Samajik Protirodh Committee, Muktijuddho Museum, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Dhaka University Teachers' Association, Peshajibi Samonnoy Parishad, FBCCI, BGMEA, Supreme Court Ainjibi Samiti, Kendriyo Olama League, Swechhasebak League, Jatiya Kabita Parisad, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad, Kendriyo Khelaghar Asar, Ganotantrik Ainjibi Samiti, Karmojibi Nari, Nari Pragati Sangha, Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad, Hazaribagh Tannery Shramik Trade Union, Ganotantrik Bam Morcha, Monisingha Farhat Trust, Kendrio Kachikachar Asar, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Shramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad, and Dhaka City Awami League placed floral wreaths on the coffin.