Mannan Bhuiyan passes away
Laid to rest in Shibganj

Veteran politician, freedom fighter and former BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan died at a city hospital after midnight Tuesday at the age of 67, report agencies.

"He breathed his last at 12:02am," said an official of the Square Hospital, where Bhuiyan had been undergoing treatment for cancer and was kept under artificial life support system for a couple of weeks.

He left behind wife, two sons and a host of relatives, political colleagues and admirers across the political lines to mourn his death.

Bhuiyan made his debut in politics as a left leaning student activist in early 1960s and afterwards joined BNP and served as a minister holding charges of different ministries in successive BNP governments.

He had been suffering from lung cancer. Bhuiyan went to Singapore in May 31 for treatment at the National Hospital there, but was sent back home to pass National Hospital there, but was sent back home to pass his last days on July 7 since then he was under intensive medical care at the hospital.

The Namaj-e-Janaza of Bhuiyan was held at Baitul Mukarram national mosque and south plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban Wednesday.

Ministers, MPs, leaders and workers of different political parties, cross section of people attended the janaza and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

The first janaza was held at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 11-20 am.

Chief Whip Abdus Shahid on behalf of the Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina and Speaker Abdul Hamid placed wreath on his coffin.

Those who attended the janaza at the south plaza include Labour and Employment Minister Eng Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Tofael Ahmed MP, Hasanul Huq Inu MP, Rashed Khan Menon MP, Barrister Moudud Ahmed MP, MK Anwar MP, Tariqul Islam, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Prof MA Mannan, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Shafiul Alam Prodhan and former Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Moniruzzaman Mia.

The second namaj-e-janaza of Bhuiyan was held at Baitul Mukarram national mosque after Johr prayer.

Former Presidents Abdur Rahman Biswas, Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP, Mayor of Dhaka Sadeq Hossain Khoka, Manjurul Ahsan Khan of Communist Party, Abdul Matin Khashru MP and ZA Khan, among others, attended the janaza.

Bhuiyan served as BNP secretary general for 11 years. The party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia expelled him before she was arrested during the army-backed caretaker government in September 2007.

Former BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was laid to rest at his family graveyard at Masimpur in Shibganj upazila on Wednesday.

Freedom Fighter Bhuiyan was laid to rest at about 6:45 pm with gun salute by a team of police.

His last Namaj-e-Janaza was held at Shaheed Asad Government College ground after Asr prayer in Shibpur.

Khaleda mourns death

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has mourned the death of her former deputy, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, whom she fired three years ago on charges of conspiring to split the party.

"He was a fearless politician and a freedom fighter. His death has created a void in the country's political arena." she said in her tribute.

The former prime minister expressed condolence to the bereaved family members of the party's longest serving secretary general.

"Late Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan had established himself in national level politics through hard work and dedication since his student life. He was very sincere in carrying out his duties."