Bangladesh leader to be buried today

Mortal remains of veteran ruling Awami League leader and 1971 Liberation War hero Abdur Razzak MP arrived in Dhaka yesterday from London by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Senior Awami League and 14-party alliance leaders received his body at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. From the airport, Razzak’s body was taken to his Gulshan residence in the capital. The first namaj-e-janaz for the veteran leader was held at the South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban yesterday while the second namaj-e-janaz at National Eidgah. Later, his body lay in state at the Central Shaheed Minar for people to pay their last respects to the late leader. Today, Razzak’s body will be flown to his birth place at Damudya in Shariatpur district by a helicopter. Another namaj-e-janaza will be held at Damudya before his body is flown back to Dhaka for burial at the Banani graveyard. Meanwhile, the Awami League began a two-day mourning yesterday. Leaders and workers of the party, its front wings and the 14-party alliance wore black badges while black flags hoisted at Awami League offices across the country including the party’s central office as a mark of respect to the veteran leader. Razzak, who was a student leader in 1960s and played a significant role in organising anti-Ayub movement in erstwhile Pakistan, died at King’s College Hospital in London on Friday.