Parliament on Thursday unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of a sitting MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury and some noted personalities.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the beginning of the 12th session of the 11th Parliament.
As per the tradition, the day’s business of Parliament was adjourned after the adaptation of the condolence over the death of sitting Awami League MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, who was elected from Sylhet-3 constituency, in order to pay respect to him.
Samad Chowdhury, 66, died of Covid-19 in a city hospital on March 12 last.
Besides, the House expressed deep shock at the death of PM’s political adviser Hossain Toufique Imam (HT Imam), former Prime Minister Moudud Ahmed (Six-time MP from Noakhali-5 and Bogura-7), former state minister Mohammad Aman Ullah (four-time MP from Mymensingh-11) and three other former MPs.
The three other ex-MPs are Toabur Rahim (ex-member of Ganoparishad and also member of 1st parliament from the then Sylhet-14), Abdul Majid Mandal (MP in 10th Parliament from Siranganj-5) and Monsur Ahmed (two-time MP from Satkhira-4).
Parliament also expressed deep shock at the death of noted personalities, including Editor of the daily Janakantha and freedom fighter Atikullah Khan Masud, Chairman of Sikder Group of Industries Zainul Haque Sikder (who is also the father of Parveen Haque Sikder), Language Movement veteran Ali Taher Majumdar, noted columnist and journalist Syed Abul Maksud, senior journalist and former president of Projonmo-71 Shahin Reza Noor, Awami League’s advisory council member Abul Hasnat and former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled.
Besides, the House expressed profound grief at the death of those who lost being affected the coronavirus in home and abroad, the 17 people of Pirganj who were killed in the recent road accident at Katakhali in Rajshahi, and the lives lost in accidents in other places at home and abroad.
A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat offered seeking the eternal peace to the departed soul. Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah conducted the munajat.
Before passing the condolence motion, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a number of MPs took part in discussions.
The Prime Minister said Samad Chowdhury was a good organiser and politically a very conscious man.
She said Samad got involved with Chhatra League in his student life and he always was engaged in the Awami League’s politics.
“He had a great interest in working for people,” she said, adding that the politics of Sylhet has incurred a huge loss with his death.
Besides, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan (Panchagarh-2), Opposition chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), Awami League MPs Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2), Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Nurul Islam Nahid (Sylhet-6), Md Abdus Shahid (Maulvibazar-4), Nesar Ahmed (Maulvibazar-3) and Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman (Sunamganj-4) and BNP MP Md Harunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj-3) also joined the discussion.