The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Awami League leader and former lawmaker Lutfar Rahman died of a heart attack at a city hospital yesterday at the age of 81.

Jatiya Sangsad officials and party sources said he died at about 6 am at the LabAid Hospital. He was buried at his family graveyard at Palashpara in Gaibandha with state honour yesterday evening.

An organiser of the 1971 Liberation War and former chief whip of the opposition in 1979 parliament, Lutfar Rahman was elected to the then Pakistan National Assembly in 1970 and later represented his Gaibandha Sadar constituency in Jatiya Sangsad in 1973, 1979 and 2001.

During his long chequered career, he also was a correspondent of the Sangbad from 1958 to 1965.

Lutfar Rahman left behind his wife, three sons and four daughters, relatives, friends and a host of admirers to mourn his death.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held at the South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban at about 11 am.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui, former speaker and deputy leader of the opposition Advocate Abdul Hamid, AL leader Abdur Razzak, former chief whip Khondokar Delwar Hossain and whip Rezaul Bari Dina of BNP joined the janaza among others.

Wreaths were placed on the coffin there on behalf of former leader of the house Begum Khaleda Zia and former leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina.

The coffin was then taken to the Awami League's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue where it was draped with national and party flags ahead of his second namaz-e-janaza.

Awami League leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdul Mannan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Akhtaruzzaman, Abdur Rahman, Asaduzzaman Noor, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Nurul Islam Nahid, HN Ashiqur Rahman, among others, attended the janaza there.

Awami League leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Mukul Bose, Professor Nazma Rahman and Asim Kumar Ukil were present.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and deputy speaker Advocate Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui in a statement mourned his death saying the nation has lost a veteran parliamentarian, social worker and patriotic leader in his death.

"We recall his role with respect also as an organiser of the Liberation War," they said and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their heartfelt sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

Acting Awami League President Zillur Rahman and acting party general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in a statement expressed their deep shock at Lutfar Rahman's death.

"We have lost a dedicated Awami League leader and distinguished politician in his demise. His death caused an irreparable loss to the party," the statement said.

They prayed for peace of the departed soul and conveyed their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

A large number of people including local officials joined his last namaz-e-janaza at the Palashpara Government Primary School Ground.