Dhaka, Mar 18 – The body of BNP standing committee member and eminent lawyer Moudud Ahmed who died in Singapore arrived in Dhaka on Thursday evening.A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the body of the veteran politician landed at 6:05pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
BNP secretary genera Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with party senior leaders received the body at the airport on completion of the necessary formalities.
The BNP leaders placed wreaths at the coffin of their late colleague, and then it was taken to the deceased’s Gulshan residence from the airport.
Later, the body the BNP leader will be kept at the mortuary of Evercare Hospital Thursday overnight.
The 81-year-old ailing BNP leader died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters at the airport, Fakhrul said the death of Moudud is an irreparable loss to the nation as well as to BNP at this time of ‘democratic crisis in the country. “We’ve lost a guardian. He’ll always remain alive among us.”
He prayed for the salvation of Moudud’s departed soul and conveyed his profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
The BNP leader bemoaned that Moudud and his family underwent serious sufferings during the rule of the current government. “He’s sent to jail many times unfairly as 36 cases had been filed against him. He’s also evicted from his Gulshan house.”
Fakhrul said Moudud’s body will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar at 9:00am on Friday enabling people to pay their last respect to the seasoned politician.
Later, his mortal remains will be taken to the High Court premises where his second namaz-e-janaza will be held on the High Court premises at 10:30am.
His first janaza was held in Singapore participated by Bangladeshi expatriates.
The third janaza will be held in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office after party leaders and activists pay homage to the deceased at 11am.
Later, Moudud’s body will be flown to Kabirhat upazila in Noakhali where his fourth janaza will be held in Kabirhat Degree College field at 2:30pm.
Moudud’s body will be taken to his village home in Companiganj upazila from Kabirhat.
He will be buried at his family graveyard in Companiganj’s Manikpur area at 5:30pm after his last Jazana at Bashurhat Government Mujib College at 4pm.
Moudud was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital for advanced treatment on February 1 as he had been suffering from various complications.
Meanwhile, BNP observed today (Thursday) as a mourning day over the death of its senior leader Moudud.
BNP hoisted the black flag at party offices across the country and kept the party flag at half-mast while party leaders and activists wore black badges in observance of the mourning day.
Moudud Ahmed is one of the founding members of BNP. He joined Jatiya Party in 1985 and served as prime minister and vice president in military ruler HM Ershad’s government.
After the fall of Ershad, Moudud returned to BNP in 1996 and was made law minister in Khaleda Zia’s government in 2001.
He also served as the first post master general of Bangladesh after independence.
Moudud was elected MP five times from Noakhali-5 seat and once from the Bogura-6 constituency. – UNB
