Tributes to Nuruzzaman

Different organisations and individuals are paying their last respect to sector commander Qazi Nuruzzaman. UPDATES

Dhaka, May 7 (bdnews24.com)—Different organisations and individuals are showing their last respect to commander of the sector seven of the Liberation War Lt Col (retd) Qazi Nuruzzaman at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city.

The body of Nuruzzaman, 86, who died of old age complications at Square Hospital on Friday, was taken to the Shaheed Minar from the BIRDEM mortuary around 10:30am on Saturday.

Leaders of ruling Awami League, opposition BNP and different political parties and cultural organisations placed wreaths at the coffin of the late freedom fighter.

Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, home minister Shahara Khatun, textiles minister Abdul Latif Siddique and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya were among the Awami League leaders who paid tribute to the freedom fighter.

BNP leaders, led by standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, paid their last respect to Nuruzzaman.

Leaders of the leftist parties also paid their last respect to Nuruzzaman, who had been pro-active demanding war crimes trials.

Matia told reporters, "Qazi Nuruzzaman was among the pioneers who had demanded war crimes trials, but it's unfortunate that he could not see it done. However, his soul will rest in peace on completion of the trial of war criminals."

Fakhrul said, "He [Nuruzzaman] raised his voice demanding war crimes trial. We also want it, but it has to be ensured in a transparent and acceptable way."

Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, Aly Zaker, and Farhad Mazar are among the cultural activists who paid tribute.

From the Shaheed Minar, Nuruzzaman's body was taken to Dhaka University around 12:30pm. The body will then be taken to the Dhaka Cantonment for burial in state honours.

EARLY LIFE AND ARMY CAREER

Born in 1925, Nuruzzaman was a student of Chemistry at St Xavier's College in Calcutta. He joined the British Indian Navy in 1943 despite his father's objection.

This was perhaps the first step taken by him towards the journey of valiance. He was transferred to the army in 1946 at Jawaharlal Nehru's encouragement.

On completion of an advanced training at the Royal Artillery School, he returned to Pakistan and was promoted to the rank of major in 1954.

He was transferred to the East Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation and finally retired from the armed forces.

LIBERATION WAR

In 1971, he joined the Liberation War and succeeded Maj Najmul Haque who died in a road crash on Nov 26, 1971 in India as Sector Commander.

Nuruzzaman was awarded the Bir Uttam award, the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh.

Since thousands of Mukti Bahini volunteers, mostly farmers, were killed and did not receive any recognition, he decided not to accept any gallantry award and rejected the Bir Uttam award.

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