Thousands pay tribute to Ershad

People in their thousands poured in to pay their last respects to Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad at the two Janazas held in Dhaka on Monday.

Politicians of different parties and representatives of many social organizations paid tribute to the military dictator turned politician.

Ershad died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Sunday where he was undergoing treatment since June 22.

Tributes to Ershad

Politicians of different parties paid tribute to Ershad at his second namaz-e-janaza held on the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday morning.

Representatives of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute on their behalf. Deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, ministers, lawmakers, and senior politicians attended the Janaza.

Hundreds of people gather in front of Jatiya Party's office in Dhaka to bid farewell to Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad |Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

JP Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga, JP senior co-Chairperson Raushon Ershad, and Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed, spoke at the program.

The body of the former president was taken to the JaPa office in Kakrail where leaders and workers of the party and its wings paid tribute.

Party Acting Chairman GM Quader,  younger brother of former president Ershad, party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga, former Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, and other senior presidium and grassroots levels leaders were present at the JaPa party office tribute event.

Also Read- Ershad's second janaza held

People from outside Dhaka also gathered there to see their leader for the last time.

His third and last janaza in Dhaka was held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after the Asr prayers. The body was then taken to the CMH mortuary for preservation overnight.

Last namaz-e-janaza

The body will be flown to his ancestral home in Rangpur on Tuesday where his last namaz-e-janaza will be held at 10:30am on the Eidgah grounds. The body will be brought back to Dhaka again. 

Also Read- President, PM mourn Ershad’s death

Although the party initially announced a burial of Ershad at the Banani army graveyard,  the leaders later said the final decision would be announced later following massive  protests with JaPa leaders and activists demanding Ershad's burial in Rangpur.

Jatiya Party acting chairman GM Quader, party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga pay tribute to Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad |Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

The decision on where Ershad is to be buried has not been finalized yet.

Graves dug in Rangpur

Local Jatiya Party leaders have prepared a burial site in Rangpur city for their former party chief.

The leaders at a press conference, held at the  party's district office on Monday, expressed their determination to bury Ershad in Rangpur even if it requires sacrificing their lives.

Rangpur City Corporation Mayor and party Presidium member Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa said they would not allow Ershad’s body to be taken back to Dhaka again.