Former minister Kamal Yusuf dies of Covid-19

Former minister for Food and Disaster Management Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf has died from Covid-19 at a Dhaka hospital.

Ibne Yusuf, also BNP’s vice chairman, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital around 1pm on Wednesday noon.

The former Faridpur 3 constituency MP was put on ventilator support at the hospital on Monday night. 

Shairul Kabir Khan, BNP chairperson's press wing official confirmed the matter.

He is survived by his wife, four daughters, and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at the death of Ibne Yusuf.

BNP Organizing Secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince informed that Yusuf will be buried at his family graveyard after Jumma prayers on Friday, reports UNB.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at his death.

In separate condolence messages, they prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Yusuf's daughter Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf has been in race as a BNP-nominated mayoral candidate in the polls to Faridpur Sadar Municipality scheduled to be held on Thursday.

Yusuf joined BNP led by the then President Ziaur Rahman after the party's formation in 1979.

He was elected to parliament in the 1979 election. 

In 1981, he was introduced as a minister in the government of President Justice Abdus Sattar. 

In 1991, he was elected again and was made the health minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 

He won the general elections in 1996 even though BNP lost power to Awami League. 

He also won the 2001 elections after which he was made the minister for Food and Disaster Management.

He lost his seat in the 2008 general polls.