Former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister and Lakshmipur-3 MP, AKM Shahjahan Kamal, passed away at a hospital in Dhaka early Saturday. He was 74.
Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, younger brother of the deceased and pro vice-chancellor (academic) of Dhaka University, confirmed the death, saying that his elder brother breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka around 3:30am.
He said Shahjahan was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and old-age complications.
Shahjahan is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters, relatives and a host of admirers and well-wishers.
His first Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the south plaza of the parliament at 11am Saturday, and he will be laid to rest at the family graveyard after a second Janaza followed by Asr prayer at Laharkandi union in Sadar upazila of Lakshmipur at 4.30pm.
Shahjahan Kamal, a heroic freedom fighter and former president of the district unit of Awami League, was elected from the Lakshmipur-3 constituency in the 1973, 2014 and 2018 elections with the boat symbol.
He served as minister for aviation and tourism for around one year after winning the 2018 election.
He was born on January 1, 1950 in Atiyatali, Lakshmipur district. He was the eldest son of Farid Ahmed and Masuma Khatun of Atiyatli area of Lakshmipur municipality.
Shahjahan passed SSC examination from Lakshmipur Model High School in 1963, HSC from Chaumuhani Madanmohan College in 1965 and BA degree from the same college.
He actively participated in the six-point movement in 1966 and 1969 mass upsurge while studying at Dhaka University. At that time, he also played an active role in the movement demanding the release of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the Agartala conspiracy case.
Shahjahan Kamal received training from India for the Great Liberation War of 1971 and actively participated in the war in Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts.
In 1975, he led the mass movement in Lakshmipur district against the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Later, he was elected general secretary of the newly formed Laxmipur District Awami League and in 1985 he was elected the president of Laxmipur District Awami League.
In 2009, he served as a member of the board of directors of Janata Bank.
Shahjahan also served as the administrator of Lakshmipur Zilla Parishad in 2011.
