Eminent scientist and husband of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dr MA Wazed Miah passed away yesterday afternoon in the capital's Square Hospital after a prolonged battle with multiple illnesses.
The prime minister was beside her husband at the moment of his passing away. He had been suffering for long from high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, and renal failure, and had been undergoing treatment in the hospital for the last one year.
The health condition of Dr Wazed, an internationally renowned nuclear scientist and a former chief of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, started deteriorating for the worst after 2:30pm, and he breathed his last around 4:25pm, doctors said.
His body was taken to his Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi from the hospital around 5:25pm. Hundreds of citizens including ministers, state ministers, lawmakers, leaders of Awami League and its associated organisations, relatives, and admirers thronged Sudha Sadan to express their condolences to Dr Wazed's bereaved family members.
The youngest among four brothers and sisters, Dr Wazed Miah, survived by his wife Sheikh Hasina, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul. Family sources said Joy and Putul were on their way home from the US and Canada yesterday.
Dr Wazed authored many books including Fundamentals of Thermodynamics, and Fundamentals of Electromagnetics, and got a PhD degree from Imperial College London. He got married to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1968.
Dr Wazed's first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Baitul Mokarram National Mosque in the capital today at 10:00am, then his body will be taken to his village home Fathepur in Pirganj of Rangpur.
He will be buried in his family graveyard after a second namaz-e-janaza there. Family sources said he will be buried next to the graves of his father Abdul Kader Miah and mother Moyzennesa. As the news of Dr Wazed's passing away spread in his village, people expressed profound sorrow.
He lived a quiet life in Sudha Sadan after his retirement. He was also known among relatives and friends as 'Sudha Miah'.
President Zillur Rahman expressed his profound sorrow at the death of Dr Wazed Miah. In a condolence message, he said, "The country has lost an eminent scientist at his death."
"The nation will recall with respect the contributions of Dr Wazed in the development of nuclear science in Bangladesh."
The president prayed for salvation of the departed soul, and also expressed his deep sympathy for members of the bereaved family of the departed.
Speaker Abdul Hamid, Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, and cabinet members also condoled the death of Dr Wazed. They also prayed for the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathies to the members of the bereaved family.
"The country has lost a talented nuclear scientist and an open-minded man at the death of Dr Wazed Miah," the speaker said in a condolence message.
Immediate past chief adviser to caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed went to Sudha Sadan at around 9:30pm to offer condolences.
Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed, air force chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, navy chief Rear Admiral ZU Ahmed too visited the Dhanmondi residence and paid respect to Dr Wazed.
KHALEDA'S CONDOLENCE
Leader of the Main Opposition also BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia condoled the death of Dr Wazed Miah. In a condolence message she said, "As a talented and dedicated scientist, Dr Miah contributed immensely to the development of science and technology in the country. I am deeply saddened by his passing away."
"It will take a long time to fill up the vacuum caused by his death," she said adding, "He deserves great praise and honour for his unique politeness and courtesy, and for his righteousness and devotion to his profession."
Expressing her deepest sympathy to the bereaved family members of the departed, the opposition leader said, "I express my deepest condolences to the prime minister and through her to the rest of the bereaved family." Khaleda prayed for salvation of the departed soul.