Dhaka, Aug 24 – Veteran politician Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed, who was at the forefront of all democratic movements till the 1980s and part of the Wartime Bangladesh Government in exile in 1971 and a close friend of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, died at a hospital in the capital on Friday night. The 98-year-old leader who guided the pro-Moscow National Awami Party (NAP) in the heyday of his political career was admitted to hospital recently with old age complications.
The chief of NAP breathed his last around 7:50 pm while being treated at the ICU of Apollo Hospital, his niece Anwara Begum said.
Muzaffar, born on April 14, 1922, in Debidwar Upazila of Comilla, was a teacher at Dhaka College and Dhaka University for some time before joining full-time politics. He took part in the 1952 Language Movement.
Prof. Muzaffar was one of the organisers of NAP, CPB and guerilla force of the student union. After independence, the NAP under his leadership joined the Gono Oikya Jote with the Bangladesh Awami League and he Communist Party of Bangladesh and was with the move to form the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BKSAL).
In the 1960s when the CBP was banned Prof. Muzaffar’s NAP was viewed as the open front of pro-Moscow left leaders most of whom operated from underground. After the liberation of the country, CPB started operating as a regular political party.
Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed subsequently reconstituted his NAP and along with another leader of this party was elected an MP in the second Parliament elected in 1979. Prof. Muzaffar also contested the 1981 presidential polls, held after the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman.
After the liberation of Bangladesh, most people looked upon him as the potential candidate to become the next Prime Minister because his pro-Moscow NAP was then the second-largest party and was backed by the Bangladesh Chhatra Union that had turned into the most powerful student organization in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Chhatra Union subsequently worked as the student wind of the Communist Party of Bangladesh. And Prof Muzaffar Ahmed formed NAP’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra Samity.
Three years ago, he declined the government’s offer of Swadhinata Padak, the highest civilian award.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mourned the death of the veteran politician.
In a message, the President prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
Prime Minister Hasina, in a separate message, expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Prof Mozaffar.
She described his role in the Liberation War and various democratic movements of the country in his long political life.
“The Nation will forever remember his contribution in the progressive politics of the country,” the Prime Minister said.
Sheikh Hasina prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. – GreenWatch Dhaka News Desk
