Veteran politician and a Liberation War organiser Tofail Ahmed was laid to rest with state honour and deep respect from people across party lines in Bhola on Tuesday.

Thousands of people from all walks of life including leaders and activists of BNP, Jatiya Party as well as supporters of Awami League (now facing ban on its activities) and its associate bodies gathered at Bhola Government Boys’ High School ground to pay their last respects, turning the venue into a sea of mourners despite intense heat.

His body, draped in the national flag, was brought to Bhola by a helicopter from Dhaka around 1:15 pm.

Floral tributes were paid as part of the state honour ceremony.

The second namaz-e-jnaza was held at the school ground led by Khatib of Bhola Khalifa Patti Jame Mosque Maulana Jamir Uddin.

People from all walks of life began gathering from around 12:30 pm, turning the venue into a sea of mourners.

After the second namaz-e- janaza, his body was taken to his ancestral home at Koralia village in Sadar upazila.

Another namaz-e-janaza of the veteran politician was held at a mosque at Koralia village after which he was buried at his family graveyard near the grave of his parents.

BNP leaders including Bhola district BNP convener Golam Nabi Alamgir and member secretary Raisul Alam were also present.

Earlier in the day, tensions erupted at the Bhola Government Boys’ High School ground as some Chhatra Dal activists protested the holding of janaza on the school ground alleging that during the AL tenure the namaz-e-janaza of Chhatra Dal President Nure Alam was denied at the venue.

However, senior BNP leaders and police later brought the situation under control allowing the janaza to proceed peacefully.

Police and Coast Guard personnel maintained tight security throughout the proceedings.

Tofail Ahmed, a key figure in the Liberation War and the 1969 mass uprising and a 8-time Member of Parliament, breathed his last around 4 pm at Square Hospital, in the capital on Monday. He was 82.

He also served as the Minister of Commerce and Minister of Industries.