Language Movement veteran Shamsul Haque passes away

Shamsul Haque, a Language Movement veteran and freedom fighter, died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on Friday night. He was 89.

He was taken to the hospital on Thursday immediately after he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Comrade Shamsul Haque left behind his wife, four daughters, three sons, many granddaughters, grandsons, relatives, friends and well-wishes.

During the 1952 Language Movement, Shamsul Haque was harassed by police several times but he did not give up hope. Rather, he encouraged school and college students to join the movement in Lalmonirhat town.

In 1971, Shamsul Haque joined the Liberation War. He was involved in organising the youth to fight against the Pakistani occupation forces.

He was elected president of the district unit of Communist Party of Bangladesh in 1973 and he had been in the post till 1988. He was a CPB member until his death.

Shamsul Haque's body was kept at the town's Central Shaheed Minar where people from all walks of life paid tributes to him.

His namaz-e-janaza was held on the central Eidgah field in the town's Khochabari area. Later, he was buried in central graveyard in the area with state honours yesterday.

Shamsul Haque was born in Khatapara village of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat on October 13, 1929.