The mortal remains of Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of late President Ziaur Rahman and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, will be brought to Dhaka on Tuesday.
According to a BNP leader in Malaysia the body of Koko will be sent by a flight of Malaysian airlines (MH-102) on Tuesday morning and is expected to reach Dhaka at 11:30am.
Koko died of a heart attack in Malaysia on way to hospital on Saturday.Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will observe a three-day mourning across the country from Monday to Wednesday at his death.
BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed made the announcement through a press statement yesterday.
As part of the programme, the BNP would hoist black fly at all offices of the party including its headquarters and leaders and activists will wear black badges on the occasion.
Leaders and activists of the BNP and all its front organisations have been asked to observe the mourning programme.
The second namaz-e-janaja of Koko will be held in front of Bnp central office at Naya Paltan in the city after asr prayer on Tuesday, said the statement.
The first namaz-e-janaza of Koko was held after zohr prayer in Malaysian central mosque Nagaray. The head Imam of the mosque led his namaz-e-janaja. Later, his body was kept in the mortuary of Malaya University Hospital.
Expatriate Bangladeshis from different Malaysian states and leaders and activists of local BNP took part in the namaz-e-janaja.
Shamim Eskandar, maternal uncle of Koko, BNP chairperson’s adviser Mosaddeque Ali Falu, Barisal BNP leader Sharfuddin Ahmed Santu, Nurul Islam Moni and Ali Asagar Loby, among others, took part in the namaz-e-janaja.
Later, many of them paid respect to his soul by placing wreath on the coffin.
In Dhaka the BNP on Saturday offered Quran khwani and held doa mahfil seeking salvation of the departed soul of Koko.
Political leaders, diplomats and people from different walks of life yesterday expressed their deep shock at the death of Arafat Rahman Koko, who was staying in Malaysia and Thailand since 2008.
Former President and Bikalpa Dhara chief Prof Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, diplomats from UK, Egypt and the USA and different organisations including the ruling Awami League expressed their shock at the death of Koko.
BNP sources said Arafat Rahman Koko may be buried at Banani Army Graveyard. Shamim Eskander went to Malaysia on Saturday to bring back body of Koko.
Meanwhile, a condolence book was opened in front of BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Bikalpa Dhara president Badruddoza Chowdhury and secretary general Maj (Retd) Abdul Mannan signed the condolence book at about 2:15pm.
Talking to reporters, B Chowdhury observed that nobody should visit a mother who lost her son and doctors put her into sleep with injection.
“If it was me I would have forbidden any meeting with her,” he added.
Replying to a question, he said election could be held under the prime minister but she should be neutral.
Convenor of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna also went to the BNP chairperson’s office in the afternoon and signed at the condolence book.
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League also expressed shock at the death of Koko.
AL publicity secretary Hasan Mahmud disclosed this at a press conference at party chief’s Dhanmondi office.
British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, US Charge-de-Affairs David Meale and Egyptian ambassador Mahmud Izzat went to BNP chairperson’s office to console her but they could not meet her due to her illness. The diplomats however, signed in the condolence book.
President of Dhaka Bar Association Md Mohsin Miah and general secretary Mosleh Uddin Jasim in a statement also expressed shock at the death of Koko. – Staff Reporter
