Col (retd) Akbar Hossain laid to rest

Dhaka, June 26 (BDNEWS) – Shipping minister Col (Rtd) Akbar Hossain was laid to rest with state honours at his family graveyard in Sharippur village of Laksham on Monday at about 6 pm.

Health, family and welfare affairs minister Dr Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain along with the local MPs and others, were present at the burial.

The BNP also announced a three-day mourning programme for the dedicated leader.

Earlier, three namaj-e-janazas were held in Dhaka. The janajas were held at his Banani residence, in front of the BNP office at Naya-paltan and at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Senior leaders and party workers of BNP were present at the Janajas. Acting President Bar Jamir Uddin Sircer, Acting Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui cabinet members, deputy leader of the opposition Advocate Abdul Hamid and lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties took part in the janaja at Jatiya Sansad plaza.

After the janaza at the JS, the body was taken to his village home at Laksham in Comilla by a helicopter. Two namaj-e-janajas were also held at Comilla. One was held at Comilla and another one at his village Sharifpur of Laksham.

Col Akbar died of a massive cardiac arrest Sunday night. As his death news spread, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, his cabinet colleagues and other lawmakers went to his Banani residence and expressed sympathy for the bereaved family members.

His body was taken to the party office at Naya-paltan at about 11 am. BNP leaders, activists and supporters attended the janaja.

After the janaza, acting president Jamiruddin Sircar laid wraths at the coffin of the minister. BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan placed wreath on behalf of BNP chairperson and PM Khaleda Zia while deputy leader of the opposition Advocate Abdul Hamid on behalf of AL president and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.

Colonel (Rtd) Akbar Hossain, also a valiant freedom fighter, was born on January 18 in 1941. He was elected MP for five times from Comilla-8 constituency and was made minister in three cabinets of BNP government. he was also Senior vice-chairman of the party.

He was conferred gallantry award, Bir Protik, for his heroic role in the war of liberation in 1971.

In 1974, he was one of the founding member of the United People's Party. Later he oined BNP and played a pioneering role in its formation of BNP.

BDNEWS/2033 hrs