BNP leader Moudud Ahmed laid to rest

BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed was laid to rest on Friday evening in his family graveyard – next to his parents – in Noakhali. 

The senior BNP leader’s burial took place at around 6:30pm after the last namaz-e-janaza held at 5:30pm in front of his ancestral home mosque at Manikpur village in Char Parvati union under Companiganj upazila, Noakhali.

Earlier, people from all walks of life, including politicians and lawyers, paid their last tributes to veteran politician at the Central Shaheed Minar, Naya Paltan and on the High Court Premises in the capital on Friday.

Two namaz-e-janazas of the BNP leader, who died in Singapore on Tuesday, were also held in the city before his body was taken to his home district Noakhali for burial.

Moudud's body was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar around 9am enabling people to pay their last respect to the seasoned politician.

Queuing up before the coffin draped in national flag, leaders and activists of different political parties, including BNP, Gono Forum, Nagorik Oikya, JSD (Rab), Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa), Jatiya Party (Zafar), and Bangladesh NAP together with common people placed wreaths one after another and stood in silence for some time to pray for Moudud’s departed soul when his body was lying in state there for around one hour.

Moudud’s brother-in-law and Prime Minister's Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury also went to the Central Shaheed Minar to pay their last homage to the 81-year-old politician former Prime Minister and vice president.

The namaj-e-janaza of BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed being held on Supreme Court premises on March 19, 2021 Mehedi Hasan

From the Shaheed Minar, Moudud’s body was taken to the High Court premises where lawyers paid their last respect to their late colleague.

His second namaz-e-janaza was also held there participated by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, judges, lawyers and politicians.

The BNP leader’s first janaza was held in Singapore with the participation of Bangladeshi expatriates living there.

The coffin of Moudud was taken to BNP's Naya Paltan central office at about 11am and kept on a makeshift stage in front of it, enabling party leaders and activists to have the final glimpse of their late leader.

Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with senior leaders draped the coffin with BNP’s flag.

On behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, they also placed wreaths on the coffin and stood in solemn silence for a while paying homage to their late colleague.

People pay their last respects to BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed on Supreme Court premises on March 19, 2021 Dhaka Tribune

Several thousand BNP leaders and activists gathered in Naya Paltan area and bid tearful adieu to their late leader. The third janaza of the BNP leader was held there.

In a brief address prior to the janaza, Fakhrul said Barrister Moudud Ahmed was not only a politician but also a legend of politics. “The void created through his death is irreparable.”

Describing Moudud as a guardian of the party, he said BNP will miss him and feel his absence.

Fakhrul prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to his bereaved family members.

Also Read - Moudud Ahmed’s body to be brought back home on Thursday

Later, Moudud's body was flown to Kabirhat upazila in Noakhali where his fourth janaza was scheduled to be held in Kabirhat Degree College field.

Moudud passed away on Tuesday while receiving treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.

He was admitted for advanced treatment on February 1 as he had been suffering from various complications.