Freedom fighter Belal Mohammad passes away

Belal Mohammad, a freedom fighter and one of the pioneers of Biplobi Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War, died at Apollo Hospital in the capital early hours yesterday. He was 77.
Belal, who had been suffering from old age complications, breathed his last around 5:00am, said an official at the hospital. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday, he told The Daily Star.
Belal earlier lost his wife and only son. He received Swadhinata Padak 2010 for his outstanding contribution to the 1971  war.
His body was taken to his Uttara residence in the morning and his first namaz-e-janaza was held there. The body was kept at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Around 11:00am today, his coffin will be taken to Central Shaheed Minar for his well-wishers and people from of all walks of life to pay their last respects. Before that, it will be taken to Bangladesh Betar Kendro at Shahbagh, said Hasan Arif of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.
His second namaz-e-janaza will be held at the Dhaka University central mosque after Zohr prayers.
In accordance with his last wish, his body will be donated to BSMMU, said Arif.
Born on February 20, 1936 in Musapur village at Chittagong's Sandwip upazila, Belal entered politics as a student. He joined the daily Azadi as a deputy editor in 1964 before starting off as a scriptwriter and artiste for Radio Pakistan's Chittagong office.
During the war, he was employed at Chittagong radio station at Kalurghat. On March 26, 1971, Belal and his associates turned the station to Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, from where the independence of Bangladesh was declared.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at his death.
In a message, the president said, "Through his death, the country lost a great freedom fighter." The country lost a true patriot and a person who always loved democracy, said the premier.
Different socio-cultural organisations also condoled his death.