The national parliament has paid tributes to eminent industrialist and valiant freedom fighter Zainul Haque Sikder and a number of other distinguished personalities who died in the recent past.
The 11th Jatiya Sangsad adopted obituary references on the death of personalities on Thursday, the first day of its 12th session.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the obituary references separately with brief resumes on those who died since prorogation of the 11th session of the parliament.
Participating in discussion on the obituary references, Honourable Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the personalities.
She remembered the role of Zainul Haque Sikder in the country’s liberation war in 1971.
“Zainul Haque Sikder was not only a freedom fighter; he extended all possible support to the pro-liberation people,” the Honourable Prime Minister said.
She said, “He offered service to the people by establishing hospitals and provided education by setting up educational institutions. I mean he did a lot for social services.”
The Honourable Prime Minister also lauded Zainul Haque Sikder for extending support to the Awami League leaders and activists.
“He would support and stand by the Awami League leaders and activists in their bad time,” she said.
Zainul Haque Sikder passed away on February 10 in Dubai at the age of 91. He was laid to eternal rest on the campus of ZH Sikder Women’s Medical College at Rayerbazar in capital Dhaka on Feb 14.
The Honourable Prime Minister conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and prayed for the peace of the departed souls.
The personalities on whose obituary references were adopted include Sylhet-3 Mahmudus Samad Chowdhury, Honourable Prime Minister’s political advisor Hossen Towfiq Imam, former prime minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister Mohammad Aman Ullah, and ex-MPs Tuabur Rahman, Abdul Majid Mondol and Munsur Ahmed.
While moving the references the Speaker said the House expresses its deep shock at the deaths of the personalities, among whom were Daily Janakantha editor and freedom fighter Atiqullah Khan Masud, Language Movement veteran Ali Taher Majumder, noted columnist Syed Abul Moksud, senior journalist Shaheen Reza Noor, Awami League Advisory Council member Awami League Abul Hasnat, former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled, former High Court division Justice Mohammad Abdul Hye, Sunamganj-5 lawmaker Muhibur Rahman Manik’s mother Jahanara Chwodhury, Honourable Prime Minister’s personal physician Professor Dr ABM Abdullah’s wife Mahamuda Begum, noted actor ATM Shamsuzzaman, veteran freedom fighter Mujibur Rahman Dilu and Notre Dame College former principal Rev Fr Joseph Stephen Peixotto.
Dr Shirin Sharmin also expressed deep shock at the death of doctors, nurses, members of law enforcement agencies, political leaders, media persons, businessmen, employees of different public and private organisations in Covid-19.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, Land Minister Enamul Haque, ruling party lawmakers Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Nurul Islam Nahid, Abdus Shahid, Muhammad Faruk Khan, Nesar Ahmed, Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Pir Fazlur Rahman and BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid also took part in the discussion.
The lawmakers also observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respects to the departed souls. Later, a special prayer, led by Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Miah, was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls.
As a mark of respects to the death of the sitting member Mahmudus Samad Chowdhury, the Speaker adjourned the sitting of the House for two days, after the adoption of the obituary references and prayers.
