The body of prominent writer and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury will arrive in Dhaka under the state management on Saturday.

Departing from London's Heathrow Airport, a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying Gaffar Chowdhury's body will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Saturday noon, said Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem.

Bangladesh High Commission in London has already completed the process of sending the body to Bangladesh under full state management at the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she said.

Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury came to London in 1974 for the treatment of his wife with the overall support of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 

According to Gaffar Chowdhury's wishes, he will be buried beside his wife at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard.

Arrangements have also been made to send Gaffar Chowdhury's family members to Dhaka by the same flight, she added.

READ: Gaffar Chowdhury's body likely to arrive in Dhaka Monday

On May 19, the veteran journalist died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital in London at the age of 88.

British-Bangladeshi community and other admirers paid their last respect to prominent writer and columnist Gaffar Chowdhury – best known for writing the lyrics of "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano" – following his first Namaz-e-Janaza held in London's Brick Lane mosque on the following day.

Bangladesh High Commission in London organised a milad mahfil in East London in memory of the late journalist and lyricist.