Joynal Hazari passes away

Awami League leader Joynal Abedin Hazari died yesterday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka.

He was 76.

Hazari, an advisory council member of the ruling party and also a former lawmaker from Feni, breathed his last around 4:00pm at LabAid Hospital, Shakhawat Hossain, former joint convener of Feni district Jubo league, told The Daily Star.

Freedom fighter Hazari had been suffering from heart, kidney, and lung diseases.

The former lawmaker was general secretary of the Feni district for a long time. Hazari was elected member of parliament from Feni-2 constituency four times, winning the elections held in 1986, 1991, and 1996.

When the Awami League government was in power in 1996-2001, Hazari created a state of terror in Feni.

He formed steering committees and a class committee to conduct his activities during that time, creating huge controversy.

Apart from repressing political opponents, Hazari was accused of torturing the then ruling party men and even journalists were not spared. For his controversial and notorious activities, the then Awami League also faced huge criticism.

When the caretaker government assumed power in 2001, law enforcers raided his house in Feni but he had left the country by then.

He was sentenced to 60 years in five cases in absentia.

After staying eight years abroad, Hazari returned in February 2009 and surrendered to the court.

He ran for the 10th parliament as an independent.

He was expelled from Awami League on May 2, 2005 for his involvement in anti-organisational activities.

The veteran politician returned to the party after 15 years as an adviser to the central committee in 2019.

He was appointed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He had received a grant of Tk 40 lakh by the prime minister for his medical expenses.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader expressed deep condolences and sympathy over his demise.

Hazari was the owner and editor of "Hazarika Pratidin", a local newspaper in Feni.