Dhaka, June 26 (BDNEWS) – Shipping minister Col (Rtd) Akbar Hossain Bir Protik was laid to rest with state honour at his family graveyard in his village Sharifpur of Laksam on Monday evening.
Earlier, he was flown to Comilla from Dhaka by a helicopter. The fourth namaz-e-janaza of the minister was held at the National Eidgah. Thousands of people from all walks of life participated in the janaza.
After the janaza his body was flown to his village home Sharifpur in Comilla. Later, he was buried at his family graveyard at 6:05 pm.
Health, family and welfare affairs minister Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain along with the local MPs, were present during the burial.
The ruling BNP also announced three-day condolence programme to recognise his contribution to the country and to pray for salvation of the departed soul.
Earlier, three namaj-e-janazas were held in Dhaka. The janajas were held at his Banani residence, in front of the BNP office at Nayapaltan and at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.
Senior leaders and activists of BNP were present at the Janajas. At the janaja held at the Jatiya Sangsad, Acting President Bar Jamir Uddin Sircar, Acting Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui cabinet members, deputy leader to opposition Advocate Abdul Hamid and lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties took part.
After the janaza at the JS, the body was sent to his village home at Laksam in Comilla by a helicopter for burial. Two namaj-e-janajas were also held at Commilla. One was at Comilla and another one held at his village Sharifpur of Laksam.
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 to have a glimpse of the body and express sympathy to the bereaved family members.
The body of late shipping minister and BNP's senior vice-chairman was taken to the party office at Nayapaltan at about 11am for namaj-e-janaza where BNP leaders, activists and supporters attended.
After the janaza, acting president Jamiruddin Sircar garlanded the coffin of the late minister. BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan wreathed the body 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 the MP for five times from Commilla-8 constituency and made minister in three cabinets.
He was conferred on the Bir Protik gallantry award for his heroic role in the war of liberation in 1971.
In 1974, he formed United People's Party and later played pioneering role in formation of BNP.
BDNEWS/2035 hrs
