Syed Ashraf laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard

Veteran Awami League (AL) leader also Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam was laid to eternal rest in the city’s Banani graveyard after Asr prayers today, three days after he breathed his last at the age of 68 on Thursday.

Body of Syed Ashraf, also AL Presidium member and former general secretary, arrived on the graveyard premises at 4:35 pm from Mymensingh where his third namaz-e-janaza was held at Anjuman Eidgah ground after Johr prayers.

People of all walks of life, including political leaders and activists, gathered on the graveyard premises to have last glimpse of their beloved leader.

Earlier, his first namaz-e-janaza was held on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban’s south plaza at 10:30 am today. A guard of honour was given to him there.

President M Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker, ministers, lawmakers, senior leaders of Awami League and other political parties joined the namaz-e-janaza.

President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah, 14-party alliance spokesperson Mohammed Nasim, lawmakers and leaders of other political parties including Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), paid rich tribute to Syed Ashraf, an eminent politician and son of national leader Syed Nazrul Islam, by placing wreath on his coffin.

Later, Syed Ashraf’s body was taken by a helicopter to Kishoreganj, from where he was elected member of parliament (MP) for five times. His second namaj-e-janaza was held at the historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in the district town at 12 noon.

The body of the legendary politician arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:55 pm by a Biman flight on Saturday, two days after he breathed his last at a Bangkok hospital. He had been suffering from lung cancer for long.

The body of the veteran AL leader was then taken to his official residence in Bailey road area where senior political leaders gathered to have last glimpse at him.

From his residence, the body was taken to the mortuary of Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

Syed Ashraf was born in Mymensingh in 1952. His father Syed Nazrul Islam was acting President of Mujibnagar Government in 1971 and one of the key figures of Bangladesh independence struggle.

He also served as the assistant publicity secretary of central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League.