The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Three separate namaz-e-janaza of former secretary and chief engineer of LGED Quamrul Islam Siddique was held in the city with state honour on Thursday.

Engineer Siddique, also a valiant freedom fighter, died of a massive cardiac attack in New Jersey, USA on September 1 at the age of 63.

The body of Siddique was brought to Dhaka by an Emirates flight this morning and was taken straight from Zia International Airport to LGED Bhaban in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11 AM.

The body was kept at the Bhaban for some time allowing people of all walks of life and LGED employees to have a last glimpse and pay their respect to Engineer Siddique, founder of local government engineering department (LGED) which is dedicated to the development of rural infrastructure and local level economies.

Before the first Janaza at LGED, a brief life sketch of the deceased was read out and the Chief Engineer of LGED Mohammad Nurul Islam delivered a short speech. Badrul Islam Siddique and Saiful Islam Siddique, the eldest brother and the only son of Quamrul Islam respectively, also spoke.

After the Namaz-e-Janaza, a smart contingent of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) gave the formal guard of honour to the freedom fighter as a mark of last respect from the State level.

LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, election commissioners Sohul Hossain and Brigadier General (Retd) Shakhawat Hossain, former secretaries Hasanat Abdul Hye, Alamgir Faruq Chowdhory and resident representative of Pan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ms. Nobuko Suzuki Kayashima, among others, were present during the janaza.

After the first Janaza, the coffin was carried to the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), where the second Namaz-e-Janaza was held at 1.30 PM. Later the third Janaza was held at the Azad mosque in Gulsan after Asar prayers.

Family sources said the body of late Quamrul Islam would be taken to his hometown Kushtia early today. The fourth and last janaza of Siddique will be held at Kushtia central Eidgah maidan this morning.

After the Janaza, the body will be brought back to Dhaka for burial at Banani graveyard.