The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Gano Forum General Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Manik died at a city hospital yesterday morning. He was 69.

Family sources said Manik breathed his last at about 11:00am in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Comfort Hospital at Green Road in the city.

The veteran politician was suffering from cancer and was under treatment in the Comfort Hospital from January 24. He left behind his wife, two daughters and host of relatives, friends and well wishers at home and abroad to mourn his death.

Leaders of different political parties, including Gano Forum (GF), Awami League (AL) and BNP, rushed to the Comfort Hospital following breaking of the news about Maniks death.

Those visited the hospital, includes-Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Dhaka City Mayor and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, AL Presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Begum Matia Chowdhury, CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, Workers Party General Secretary Bimal Biswas, GF leaders Pankoj Bhattachariya, Commander Abdur Rauf, Shamsuddoha, former Chief Whip Abdur Rauf, Mostafa Mohshin Montu, ASM Altaf Hossain and Mustaque Ahmed.

Party sources said the first namaz-e-janaza of Saifuddin Ahmed Manik was held after the Asr prayer yesterday at Gopibagh Jame Mosque near his residence.

His body will be taken to central Shaheed Minar today (Monday) at about 11:00am, to enable people from all strata to pay their last respect to Manik, who played a significant role during the Liberation War in 1971.

He will be buried at the Mirpur Intellectuals' Graveyard after his final namaz-e-janaza at the National Eidgaha after Johr prayer today.

Saifuddin Ahmed Manik was born at Jalpaiguri district town of West Bengal in India on June 24 in 1939. His ancestral home is in Parshuram upazila under Feni district.

After the partition of the Indian sub-continent, his family returned to Dhaka in 1948 and permanently settled in the city.

Involved in politics since 1963, Saifuddin Ahmed Manik was elected General Secretary and later President of the then East Pakistan Chhatra Union (Matia). He was a central leader of the All-party Central Students' Action Committee that led the students-people mass uprising leading to the ouster of Field Marshall Ayub Khan in March 1969.

Manik was elected General Secretary of Trade Union Centre after the Liberation War in 1971 and an organiser of the War. He was elected an organiser of the CPB Central Committee in 1972 and one of its Secretaries in 1973. He was elected President of the party after death of Mohammad Farhad in 1987.

He was one of the founders of Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum in 1993, and elected its General Secretary the same year.

He was also a cultural activist, one of the founders of Chhayanat and Brothers Union Club.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and leaders of different political parties and socio-cultural organizations expressed at the death of Gano Fourm (GF) General Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Manik.

Expressing his deep shock at the death of the GF General Secretary, in a condolence message, President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, recalled the working life of Saifuddin Ahmed Manik and said that people would always remember him with due respect for his great contribution in 60s' student movements, Liberation War and social service, including all the democratic and progressive political movements.

"The country has lost an experienced politician with his death," he said, praying for the salvation of the departed soul.

The President also conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, in a separate condolence message, expressed his deep sorrow at the death of veteran politician and GF General Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Manik.

The Chief Adviser said Saifuddin Ahmed Manik was one of the main leaders of student and mass movements in the 60s.

He said, "Manik also played active role in different democratic and progressive movements, including Liberation War, of the country".

The country has lost an experienced and patriotic politician at his death, he added.

The Chief Adviser prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family members.

GF President Dr Kamal Hossain, AL President Zillur Rahman, BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman, former BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, former Prime Minister and Jatiya Party Presidium member Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu, Ganotantree Party President Mohammad Nurul Islam, Shamyobadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, SKOP Secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan, Jatiya Sramik Federation President Abul Bashar and Chairman and Secretary General Majbur Rahman Bhuiyan and Nazrul Islam Khan, in separate statements expressed deep shock at the death of Siafuddin Ahmed Manik and paid rich tributes to his memories.