Dhaka, Oct 20 (bdnews24.com)–Language Movement veteran and Democratic League Chairman Oli Ahad was laid to rest at Banani graveyard in the city on Saturday night following largely-attended funeral after his second Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) at Baitul Mukarram Nation Mosque.
Oli Ahad died of old age complications at city's Shamarita Hospital in morning. He was 85.
He was pronounced dead by doctors around 9am after being kept on life support over the last few days. Ahad was admitted to Shamarita Hospital in a critical condition on Oct 14 as he was suffering from lung infection.
His wife, Professor Rashida Begum said the veteran politician had been ill since March. He spent a spell in the hospital from March to April, before being taken home after his condition improved. He was brought back after it deteriorated again.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia expressed condolences over Ahad's death.
His mortal remains were taken to the Central Shaheed Minar around 1pm for people to pay tributes. Many other fellow Language Movement veterans, including Abdul Matin and Rowsan Ara, and political leaders paid their respect.
Abdul Matin said, "It was Oli Ahad who had inspired us to join the Language Movement. He not only led the Language Movement but also all the democratic movements in the country."
Rowsan Ara said Ahad had inspired them to join the Language Movement without fearing for lives.
BNP leaders Abdullah Al Noman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Awami League leader Abdul Matin Khasru, AL's student front, JASAD and many others placed floral wreathes on the coffin and paid their last respect.
Khasru said Ahad's death was an irreparable loss for the country.
"At present there is no political personality like him in the country," BNP leader Noman said and added that the young generation should follow him.
From Shaeed Minar Ahad's body was taken to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. After his funeral prayer there, the body was brought to Banani Graveyard.
Ahad was one of the key founders of East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League formed on Jan 4, 1948.
He was also the founding General Secretary of the Ganatantrik Juba League and was the first person to be arrested in the Language Movement on Mar 11, 1948.
Ahad, during his life-long political career, also served as the Publicity Secretary and Organising Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League.
He joined the National Awami Party (NAP) of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani through the Kagmari Convention in 1957.
The veteran politician played key roles in the movements for speech and personal freedom, democracy and freedom of press in Bangladesh, and had to go to prison several times for protests.
He also had to face trial in a military tribunal in the 80s. The weekly Ittehad, which was edited by him, was banned at that time for raising public opinion against dictatorship.
Oli Ahad was given the highest state recognition, Swadhinota Padak, in 2004 for his contribution to Bangladesh's independence and the Liberation War.
He was born in Islampur village of Brahmanbaria's Sorail. His only daughter Barrister Nomin Farzana practices in the High Court.
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