Dhaka, Nov 05 – The body of the former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka is expected to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:10 am Thursday and he will be buried at Jurain graveyard after asr prayer beside the graves of his parents, according to his family sources. Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) yesterday declared November 7 as a holiday, to pay tribute to former city mayor Khoka. All activities of the city corporation and its regional offices will remain closed on the day.
The flight of Emirates Airline carrying the body of veteran freedom fighter left New York’s JF Kennedy Airport around 11:30 pm Tuesday (local time).
After reaching his body, the second namaz-e-janaza of Khoka will be held at South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad at 11 am. Later, his body will be kept at central Shaheed Minar from 12.00noon to 1:00 pm for all people to pay tribute to the politician.
His third name-e-janaza will be held in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan in the capital after Johr prayer while fourth namaz-e-janaza at Dhaka South City Corporation premises at 3 pm and thereafter his body will be taken to his Gopibag residence in old Dhaka.
His fifth and last Namaz-e-Janza will be held at Dhupkhola field and then he will be buried beside his parents at Jurain graveyard of the capital according to his last wish.
Earlier, the first namaz-e-janaza of Sadeque Hossain Khoka was held at Jamaica Muslim Heights in the USA.
Meanwhile, chairman of International Farakka Committee (IFC) Atiqur Rahman Salu, also a boyhood friend of Khoka, in a statement expressed his deep shock at eh death of valiant freedom fighter and sough salvation of his departed soul.
Sadeque Hossain Khoka, 67, died in the USA on Monday. He had long been suffering from cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York since October 18 for cancer with some other health complications.
The former mayor left his wife Ismat Ara, daughter Sarika Sadeque, sons Ishraque, Isfaque Hossain and a host of relatives, followers and well-wishers to mourn his death. – Staff Reporter
