Barrister Nazmul Huda passes away

Former BNP leader and minister Barrister Nazmul Huda died at a city hospital tonight.

He was 80.

Akkas Ali Khan, secretary general of Trinamool BNP, Huda's new party which got registration a few days ago, confirmed that the expelled BNP leader breathed his last at Square Hospital around 10:25pm.

The veteran politician left behind his wife Sigma Huda, two daughters Antora Salima Huda and Srabonti Ameena Huda and a host of well-wishers and friends to mourn his death.

Born in 1943, Huda was elected lawmaker from Dhaka-1 (Dohar and Nawabganj) constituency four times with BNP ticket. He served as information minister during 1991-1996 and then communications minister during 2001-2006.

He was one of the founding members of the BNP and was the vice-chairman before being expelled from the party in 2012.

Huda started his political career with Jagodal, founded by late president Ziaur Rahman in 1977.

He was also a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

After his expulsion from the BNP, he formed Bangladesh Nationalist Front, but he was ousted from the party within a few months.

Then he established Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA) in May 2014 and Bangladesh Manabadhikar Party in November of the same year. In November 2015, he founded another political party named Trinamool BNP.

Huda, as the head of an alliance of 31 parties, joined the ruling Awami League-led 14-party combine in January 2016.

He contested the 2018 national election as a BNA candidate from Dhaka-17 constituency but was defeated.

Huda was accused of corruption by the Anti-Corruption Commission during the army-backed last caretaker government.