Lawyer Baset Majumder passes away
Abdul Baset Majumder, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and former vice chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council, passed away at 8:18am yesterday in the capital's United Hospital.
He was 83.
Majumder, known as a lawyer for the poor, left his wife, two sons and two daughters and a host of admirers to mourn his death.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain announced the suspension of all functions of the Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court yesterday in honour of the veteran jurist, who was also a member of the advisory council of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League, according to a notification issued by the SC administration.
All trial proceedings of the lower courts in Dhaka were also suspended, Advocate Abdul Baten, president of Dhaka Bar Association, told The Daily Star.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin in separate condolence messages expressed profound shock at the death of Majumder.
They prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul and expressed deep sympathy for his bereaved family.
With love, respect and grief, people from all walks of life bade farewell to senior counsel Abdul Baset Majumder yesterday evening.
Earlier in the day, his coffin was kept at the National Eidgah Maidan near the Supreme Court premises where SC judges, lawyers, law officers, government high officials, political leaders, professionals and Majumder's family members paid their last respects.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held there.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mahbub Ali, judges of the Appellate and High Court Divisions, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Attorney General and SCBA president AM Amin Uddin and its Secretary Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, among others, joined the janaza and paid tribute by placing wreaths.
Advocate Abdul Baset Majumder was born on January 1, 1938, at Laksham, Cumilla, and was enlisted as a lawyer on September 28, 1966 and was enlisted to begin practice at the High Court on February 8, 1967.
A lawyer for 56 years, he was admitted to the hospital on September 30 and then put on life support on October 24, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin told this correspondent.