Dhaka, Nov 19 (bdnews24.com) -- Ruling Awami League MP and freedom fighter Dewan Farid Gazi has died of a heart attack at the Dhaka's Square Hopsitals. He was 85.
A former cabinet member under Bangladesh's founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Gazi expired around 5am on Friday.
Gazi left behind five sons and two daughters.
Gazi Mohammad Shahnewaj, elder son of Farid Gazi, told bdnews24.com that the first janaja will be held at Baitul Mokarram Mosque after Jumaa prayer.
The body will be taken to Sylhet after a second janaja at the south plaza of the national parliament, he added.
Square Hospital managing director Brig Gen (rtd) John Gomez told bdnews24.com that Gazi died of a heart attack.
He was brought from Sylhet and admitted to the hospital on Oct 15 for kidney dialysis. Gazi had long been suffering from asthma, cardiac and diabetes complications as well.
Gazi was born in 1924 at Devpara under Nabiganj Upazila. He passed matriculation examination from Sylhet's Rasamoy School and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Madan Mohan College, Sylhet. He also studied at Sylhet Alia Madrasa and Sylhet Murari Chand College.
Farid Gazi was elected a Member of National Assembly (MNA) in 1970 as an Awami League candidate from Sylhet Sadar constituency.
He was elected an MP from the same constituency in 1973. Later, he was given the office of commerce state minister in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's cabinet.
The senior Awami League leader was also elected MP in 1996, 2001 and 2008 from Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj and Bahubal) constituency.
He was the chairman of parliamentary standing committee on primary and mass education ministry.
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